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Plane crashes near Piru, killing 1
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Approximate location of plane crash
A single-engine airplane slammed into a dirt embankment in a citrus orchard south of Fillmore Wednesday afternoon, killing the pilot.
The Cessna 152 was so badly damaged in the fiery crash that authorities had yet to identify it as of 5 p.m., nearly four hours after it went down.
"At this point, we have no idea where it had taken off from nor where it was going," said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles.
Much of the tail number, which is typically used to identify an aircraft, was destroyed. Only an "N" and a "2" were visible.
Tim Hagel, a captain with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office in Fillmore, said the plane had been seen flying over the small town of Piru east of Fillmore. The aircraft then approached the South Mountain area south of Highway 126 before suddenly making a sharp turn and crashing, said Hagel, as he stood just yards from the charred aircraft. The pilot's charred remains could be seen in the wreckage. The plane, which went down near Guiberson Road and the Santa Clara River, exploded into a ball of fire after it hit the ground.
A road crew, which was working on Guiberson Road, helped put out the fire.
Had the fire not been put out rapidly, "it could have quickly grown given the dry conditions out here," Hagel said.
Investigators think only the pilot was aboard, Hagel said.
Deputies cordoned off the area around the plane and waited for investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration to arrive
Posted by scottypufs on July 2, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Fillmore Gazette has pictures and video of the crash. www.fillmoregazette.com and then click on the Front Page section at the top left of the website.
Posted by scottypufs on July 2, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is the link http://www.fillmoregazette.com
Posted by onapproach on July 2, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The poster above is pulling your leg. There is no video of the crash there. The only thing they have is some footage from the site, but that's about it.
Posted by AskingQuestions on July 2, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
onapproach, the link to a video is there (fillmoregazette.com) and it is a very good report. First select FRONT PAGE and then click on the PLAY button.
Posted by scottypufs on July 2, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No leg pulling intended. The Fillmore Gazette has footage of the crash SITE. Sorry. http://www.fillmoregazette.com
Posted by onapproach on July 2, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, I said that in my post above. I also mentioned above that it's just a report from the scene.
Posted by onapproach on July 2, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, there is also the same here. It's to the right of the story.
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