4 dead in single-engine plane crash near Visalia
Four people are dead after a plane crashed west of Visalia Municipal Airport, sheriff's officials said.
Emergency crews responded after receiving a call just after 6:30 p.m. that a small plane was down near the airport. Detectives and deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff's Department were first on scene near Highway 99 in Visalia. They remained there through Sunday until federal flight officials arrived.
The plane left Visalia Municipal Airport at 6:37 p.m., Sgt. Jesse Cox said. Around four minutes elapsed between takeoff and the first 911 call. Based on flight tracking apps, it appears the pilot tried to return to the airport shortly after takeoff.
It took first responders some time to locate the wreckage due to the dense fog in the area. Photos of the wreckage show a crumpled cabin and debris in front of an orchard, near the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility on Avenue 288.
"It was dark. At the time, it was much foggier," Cox said. "We circulated the area with personnel until we found it (the wreckage)."
Deputies said ambulances and firefighters were at the scene shortly after the crash. Ambulances didn't transport any of the victims.
The National Transportation Safety Board is en route to the area and is investigating the crash of a Beech V35 airplane in Visalia. The Federal Aviation Administration as well as the National Transportation Safety Board arrived Sunday.
A plane with the tail number N7933M left the Visalia airport at 6:37 p.m., according to flight records. The 1966 Beech plane is registered to David Chelini out of Sacramento, according to a publicly searchable FAA database.
Detectives have not identified any victims.
Details surrounding the crash will have to wait until transportation safety officials complete their investigation, which could take weeks.
More: Porterville plane crash victim ID'd as Cal Guard Lt. 'He had a thirst for life'
Saturday's incident is the second deadly plane crash to happen in Tulare County this year. In June, a Van's RV-6 kit plane nosedived shortly after departing the Porterville Airport.
The pilot, Lt. Col. Billy “Taz” Sullivan with the 144th Fighter Wing, died on impact.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 4 dead in single-engine plane crash near Visalia
