FULLERTON (CNS) – Investigators Saturday are continuing their efforts to determine what caused a small plane to plummet into a furniture warehouse near Fullerton Airport, killing a man and his teenage daughter and injuring 19 people on the ground.
The crash occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the 2300 block of Raymer Avenue, immediately sparking a fire, according to the Fullerton Police Department, which responded to the scene with Fullerton and Orange County Fire Authority crews and worked to evacuate the building.
The building struck was Michael Nicholas Design Factory, a furniture warehouse at 2330 Raymer Ave. Video from the scene showed a gaping hole in the building’s roof where the plane struck it. Security footage caught the moment of impact, showing the plane slam into the roof, sparking a massive fireball.
Two people — both of whom were believed to be aboard the plane when it crashed — died, according to Kristy Wells of the Fullerton Police Department.
They have been identified as Pascal Reid of Huntington Beach, who was listed as the plane’s owner, and his 16-year-old daughter Kelly, a junior at Huntington Beach High who played varsity soccer, lacrosse and flag football at the school.
The Huntington Beach High School soccer program posted a statement on Instagram saying Reid and his 16-year-old daughter, Kelly, were killed in the crash.
Eleven of the 19 injured victims were taken to area hospitals and the rest were treated at the scene, Wells said. Their injuries varied in severity but were not considered life-threatening, officials said.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which was investigating the cause of the crash with the National Transportation Safety Board, reported that the plane was a single-engine Vans RV-10 experimental kit aircraft. According to FAA records, the plane, with tail number N8757R, was built in 2011.
Friends of the victims continued to mourn their loss.
“Kelly was an amazing girl, genuine and kind with such passion for life,” the soccer program post stated. “Kelly was a loved member of the varsity team and wore the number 6. The number 6 symbolizes love, creating harmony and taking care of others. I cannot think of a better way to describe our special number 6. Kelly was a natural caregiver and always put others first. She will be deeply missed. Her father was at every single game, always so proud of his daughter. Our love and prayers go out to Tara and Rebekah Reid.”
On Friday, friends and classmates of Kelly Reid gathered at a Huntington Beach church Friday to remember her and her father.
“Kelly will be remembered as someone who was just as joyous as one could be, and I think what I want to carry on from her is, like, the hard work and passion she had for every little thing she did,” classmate Maia Dadakis told reporters outside the church. “She was loving and kind towards everyone.”
A Fullerton Police Department lieutenant said the airplane, which had taken off from Fullerton Airport and was returning to land at the airfield when it crashed, was a homemade four-seater.
In a news briefing Thursday, Eliott Simpson, an investigator with the NTSB, said the plane was flying under “visual flight rules,” with no requirement for a flight plan, and investigators did not yet know the pilot’s destination. He said weather did not appear to be any factor in the crash.
“The airplane departed from Runway 24 at Fullerton about 2 p.m. this afternoon, climbed straight ahead to about 900 feet, and a short time later the pilot called for an immediate return to the airport,” Simpson told reporters. “The tower controller then cleared the pilot to land on any runway. The airplane then appeared to make a 180-degree left turn and flew the left downwind for Runway 24 and ultimately crashed about 1,000 feet short of Runway 24. It struck a furniture building and immediately caught fire.”
Simpson described the RV-10 as a “very popular airplane,” with about 1,100 built.
He added that the NTSB’s preliminary report would be completed within 14 days, with the final report taking 12 to 18 months.
The furniture warehouse was red-tagged and sustained significant damage from both the crash and the resultant fire, according to Fullerton fire officials.
“Today, our community faced a tragic incident when an experimental aircraft crashed into an industrial building near the Fullerton Airport,” the Fullerton City Council said in a statement.
“In the midst of this solemn tragedy, we are profoundly grateful to the first responders who acted with courage and unwavering dedication to protect lives and assist those in need. We deeply acknowledge the efforts of the Fullerton Police and Fire Departments, along with the Buena Park Police, La Habra Police, BNSF Police, Cal State Fullerton University Police, Brea Fire, Anaheim Fire, Huntington Beach Fire, and the Orange County Fire Authority.”
Mayor Fred Jung also praised the first responders.
“Your extraordinary efforts remind us of the strength and resilience of our community. As we come together in the wake of this tragedy, the City of Fullerton is committed to providing support for all those affected and working with the agencies involved to uncover the details of this incident,” he said.
“We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis. Together, we will move forward with resolve, care, and unity.”
In November, a single-engine plane crashed in the 2400 block of Artesia Avenue, also just east of Fullerton Airport, leaving the two people aboard with moderate injuries. That plane also crashed while trying to land at the airport.
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