A small plane crashes into a Los Angeles-area neighborhood, killing 2
people and a dog
[May 05, 2025]
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — A small plane crashed into a neighborhood in
Simi Valley on Saturday afternoon, killing two people and a dog aboard
the aircraft and damaging two homes, authorities said.
Fire crews responded, and police cordoned off the streets, warning
people to stay clear of the area. Smoke could be seen billowing from the
roof of one home in the Wood Ranch section of the community, which lies
nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.
Wreckage could be seen between the two homes. The Ventura County Fire
Department confirmed that residents were inside at the time but said
they evacuated with no reported injuries. Both homes sustained
structural damage and were impacted by the fire, authorities said.
About 40 firefighters were on scene. With the flames out, they began
working on salvage.
Officials initially reported one death. Later Saturday, the Simi Valley
Police Department said the pilot, a passenger and a dog in the airplane
died.
As of Sunday, authorities had not released any information about the
occupants of the single-engine Van's RV-10, which is a popular
home-built plane sold in kit form. They also did not say what might have
caused the crash.
The plane crashed into the backyard and dining room of Arman
Hovakemian's home. Hovakemian told the Los Angeles Times that he was
doing yard work when he noticed the plane above, circling lower and
lower in the hillside neighborhood.
He ran inside to get his wife, Armineh, and their Pomeranian dog, Koko,
and they fled the property. A loud bang followed and the fuselage landed
where he had been standing in the yard just moments before, he said.
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Firefighters work at the site of a plane crash in the Wood Ranch
section of Simi Valley, Calif., on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP
Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“I’m numb. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hovakemian said Saturday as
dozens of firefighters and police officers surrounded his home.
“We’re fortunate we were able to get out.”
In security video recorded by a neighbor that was viewed by the
Times, the plane can be heard circling the neighborhood for nearly
three minutes and flying close to homes at points. In another video,
the plane can be seen shooting straight up into the clouds then
dropping down again.
An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board also
was on the scene Saturday. NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson said once
the wreckage of the plane is documented, it will be moved to a
secure facility for further evaluation.
Investigators also will be combing through the plane's maintenance
records, weather forecasts, recordings of any air traffic control
communications, witness statements, the pilot's background and any
surveillance video that might have captured the aircraft.
In January another Van's RV-10 crashed into a warehouse in
Fullerton, which is southeast of Los Angeles, while trying to make
an emergency landing, killing the pilot and his teen daughter and
injuring 19 people in the building. A preliminary report issued by
the NTSB said that plane appeared to have had a door ajar during
flight.
It will likely be weeks before the NTSB releases preliminary
findings on the Simi Valley crash. A final report comes months
later.
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