Two Die in Plane Crash, Two Dogs Survive in California

Two Die in Plane Crash, Two Dogs Survive in California
Gillespie Field northeast of San Diego, Calif. (Screenshot via Google Maps)
Petr Svab
2/6/2018
Updated:
10/5/2018

Two people died in a small plane crash in California on Tuesday, Feb. 6, around 7 a.m. Two dogs were injured, but survived the crash.

The Cessna 182 Skylane plane crashed after take off only about 1,000 feet off the end of the runway at Gillespie Field airport in Santee, a city on the northeast outskirts of San Diego, reported Karen Kucher of San Diego Union-Tribune on Twitter.

The dogs were taken to a local vet.

The plane apparently experienced a technical issue after taking off, Santee Fire Chief Richard Smith told the Union-Tribune.
The approximate location of a small plane crash in Santee, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2017. (Screenshot via Google Maps)
The approximate location of a small plane crash in Santee, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2017. (Screenshot via Google Maps)

The pilot “circled around and was trying to make it back to the airport, came up short and landed in the yard,” Smith said.

There was no fire, but the plane was badly damaged and spilled fuel. A hazardous materials cleanup crew was dispatched.

Two teenagers were on their way to high school when they saw the plane coming down. They were afraid it would hit them and so they pulled over. After the crash they called 911 and tried to get to the wreckage, Mimi Elkalla of 10 News reported.
“The front of the plane is completely destroyed and it was all indented and there was gas leaking everywhere. It was just covered in gas and there was just a bunch of blood. And there was no way that you could have gotten to anybody inside the plane,” said one of the teens.

The plane’s registered under John and Cherril Longhurst of Darby, Montana, according to the FAA.

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