NTSB investigates deadly single-engine plane crash in California
VISALIA, California – At least four people have died after a plane crashed near an airport in central California on Saturday, authorities said.
Emergency teams responded after receiving a call shortly after 6:30 p.m. that a small plane had landed near the airport in Visalia, California. Detectives and deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department were first on the scene and remained there through Sunday until federal flight officials arrived.
The plane left Visalia Municipal Airport at 6:37 pm, Sgt. Jesse Cox said. About four minutes passed between takeoff and the first 911 call. Based flight tracking app, it looks like the pilot was trying to get back to the airport shortly after the plane took off.
It took some time for first responders to locate the wreckage due to dense fog in the area. Photos of the wreckage show a crumpled cabin and debris in front of an orchard, near a water extraction facility.
Cox said: “It was dark. At that time, it was much more foggy. “We rotated the area with staff until we found it (rubble).”
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Delegates said ambulances and firefighters were on the scene shortly after the accident. The ambulance did not carry any victims.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB arrived on Sunday.
An aircraft with tail number N7933M left Visalia airport at 6:37 p.m., according to flight records. The 1966 Beech aircraft was registered to David Chelini in Sacramento, according to a publicly searchable FAA database.
Detectives have not identified any victims.
Details surrounding the crash will have to wait until traffic safety officials complete their investigation, which could take several weeks.