A handmade kit plane crashed into two homes in Simi Valley, California, on Saturday, killing the pilot, a passenger, and a dog. The crash occurred around 2:00 pm on High Meadow Street, about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The plane, a single-engine Vans RV-10, was en route from William J. Fox Airfield to Camarillo Airport.
Witnesses saw the plane wobbling and flying sideways before hitting one house and causing a fire. Flames and an explosion were captured on a Ring camera. The residents of both impacted homes were safely evacuated. The Ventura County Fire Department confirmed the second house suffered less damage.
Authorities, including the NTSB, are investigating the cause of the crash, reviewing weather reports, flight records, and maintenance logs. The Hovakemians’ home is off-limits while the investigation continues. The FAA confirmed the pilot was alone on board, and the NTSB is leading the investigation.
This incident follows a similar crash earlier this year in Fullerton, involving a Vans RV-10, which killed a pilot and his daughter.