A small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in Simi Valley on Saturday afternoon, May 3, 2025, resulting in casualties and damaging two homes, according to authorities.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft involved was a Vans RV-10 — a four-seat, single-engine plane typically home-built from a kit.
A home-built kit airplane crashed Saturday afternoon in Simi Valley, California killing the pilot, a passenger and a dog. Two homes were damaged, but no one on the ground was injured. @MelissaABCNews reports. pic.twitter.com/2oinMScLQU
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) May 5, 2025
The aircraft had departed from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and was heading to Camarillo Airport when it went down around 2 p.m. in the 200 block of High Meadow Street, in the Wood Ranch community.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that both the pilot and a passenger died in the crash, along with a canine also on board. As of Sunday afternoon, the identities of the victims had not yet been released.
#BREAKING: SMALL PLANE CRASHES INTO HOMES IN SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA — 1 DEAD
A Van’s RV-10 aircraft (N626PB) crashed into two homes on High Meadow St in the Wood Ranch neighborhood of Simi Valley this afternoon.
The flight, which departed from Lancaster and was en route to… pic.twitter.com/koeqFqK7j9
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) May 3, 2025
The plane crashed into the backyard and dining room of a home belonging to Arman and Armineh Hovakemian. Arman had been doing yardwork when he noticed the plane flying low and circling unusually close to the hillside homes.
Fearing the worst, he rushed inside to alert his wife and retrieve their Pomeranian, Koko. Just moments later, the aircraft slammed into their property, igniting a fire and filling the air with the smell of gasoline.
The couple managed to escape unharmed, though the fuselage landed in the very spot Arman had been standing minutes before. Neighbors then called 911.
“I’m numb. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “We’re fortunate we were able to get out.” Another nearby home, owned by P. J. Van Kralingen and his wife, Iris, also sustained damage. The couple was away at the Getty Center when they received a text about the crash.
Although no one was home at the time, the impact shattered windows in their family room — a space usually occupied by Iris’ parents, who live with them. The family’s three dogs were home during the incident, and two remain missing after apparently escaping during the chaos.
‘It’s a little bit unsettling,” P.J. remarked, noting that investigators told him he wouldn’t be able to return to the property for at least 24 hours due to the ongoing investigation.
Witnesses described the plane’s behavior in the minutes before the crash as alarming. In security footage reviewed by neighbors and later viewed by The Los Angeles Times, the aircraft can be heard circling for nearly three minutes, flying unusually close to several homes.
In another clip, it’s seen shooting vertically into the clouds before plunging downward. The NTSB arrived at the scene on Sunday to begin clearing wreckage and assessing the area. Officials expect their full investigation to take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete.
Videos shared by the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) capture the harrowing aftermath of the plane crash, with first responders working swiftly at the scene.
In the aerial footage, firefighters can be seen on the roof of one of the damaged homes, where parts of the structure have been blown apart, exposing the interior and attic. A firefighting ladder is extended overhead, allowing personnel to combat the fire from above while smoke rises from the residence.
#meadowincident; VCFD is on scene of a small, single engine fixed-wing aircraft that crashed into two structures in the 200 block of High Meadow Street in the Wood Ranch area of Simi valley. The structures are both two-story, single-family homes that were impacted by fire and… pic.twitter.com/W4L18G1dbj
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) May 3, 2025
Another snapshot shows crews on the ground and roof securing the area, with debris scattered throughout the backyard and signs of impact near a chimney and side wall. Structural damage is evident, with tiles ripped away and wooden beams exposed.
Despite the destruction, the coordinated emergency response helped contain the flames quickly, preventing further spread.
“Firefighters began an aggressive fire attack and quickly knocked down the fire. Both homes were occupied at the time, and firefighters assisted with evacuating residents. No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported. Both homes were impacted by fire and sustained structural damage,” reads a portion of the VCFD’s Instagram video post.
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Additional video footage was shared on YouTube by ABC 7. It includes footage taken by Arman, showing a chilling close-up of the fire that broke out in his backyard when the plane crashed.
Source: ondoho.com
