5 Dead After Small Plane Crashes Into Yorba Linda Home
YORBA LINDA (CBSLA) — Five people are confirmed dead after a plane crashed into a home in Yorba Linda, authorities said.
The Orange County Fire Authority said two people with moderate injuries were transported to a local hospital following the crash.
Officials told CBS2/KCAL9 that the plane's pilot -- a male -- was the only occupant of the plane.
The NTSB said Sunday evening that four people inside the home were also killed. The deceased were described as two males and two females.
The plane, described as a Cessna, went down on Crestknoll Drive, according to witness accounts at the scene. It was reported that the home was hosting a Super Bowl party at the time, though that remains unconfirmed.
The plane appeared to be in flames as it fell from the sky. Parts of the plane broke off and showered much of the 19000 block of Canyon Drive in Yorba Linda with debris.
The plane crashed about 15 miles from Fullerton Municipal Airport where it had taken off about 2 p.m. Sunday.
The OCFA downgraded the number of homes engulfed in flames from two to one.
"It was a boom, pop. I run outside thinking somebody hit my daughter's car," said Laurie Stockstill, a witness. "I look up. I see this huge piece. I don't know what it was. You can just watch it in slow motion. Then I see a big cloud of smoke go up. Oh my God, it was just awful. By the time I got from here to my backyard, the house was just burning,"
Stockstill said a neighbor proceed to bang on the window of one of the burning homes, trying to get into the house. "It was just awful," said added.
Another witness identified only as Trista described a huge explosion.
"And then I heard a huge explosion," she said. "I came running out in my backyard. I saw the house over here, diagonal to me, fully engulfed in flames. I heard glass breaking. People yelling for their lives, screaming, 'God, help me!' It was horrible. I started shaking like a leaf. I didn't know what was happening."
Video from the scene showed flames shooting into the air. The crash happened just before 2 p.m.
Glenknoll Elementary is being used as a command center and will be closed Monday. Notifications went out to parents, the NTSB said.
