A small plane crashed into two homes in the Wood Ranch neighborhood of Simi Valley on Saturday, leaving the pilot dead and sparking a dramatic fire that damaged both residences. The incident occurred around 2: p.m. on High Meadow Street near Wood Ranch Parkway, according to local authorities
Officials confirm the pilot, who has not yet been identified, was the only person aboard the Vans RV-10 aircraft. The plane had departed from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and was headed to Camarillo Airport when it went down Residents were inside both homes at the time but managed to escape without injury as flames quickly engulfed parts of the structures
Eyewitnesses described the plane flying unusually low before spiraling down and crashing, with a neighbor’s security camera capturing the explosion and resulting fire About 40 firefighters responded, quickly knocking down the blaze and working to salvage what they could from the damaged properties
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. Streets in the immediate area remain closed as officials continue their work
