FULLERTON (CNS) - Investigators are combing through the wreckage Friday left when a small plane crashed into a furniture warehouse near Fullerton Airport, killing two people and injuring 19 others.
The crash occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the 2300 block of Raymer Avenue, immediately sparking a fire, according to the Fullerton Police Department, which responded to the scene with Fullerton and Orange County Fire Authority crews and worked to evacuate the building.
The building struck was Michael Nicholas Design Factory, a furniture warehouse at 2330 Raymer Ave. Video from the scene showed a gaping hole in the building's roof where the plane struck it.
Fire crews and paramedics assembled nearby to treat potential victims.
Eleven of the injured victims taken to area hospitals and the rest were treated on scene, said Kristy Wells of the Fullerton Police Department. The injuries varied in severity but were not considered life-threatening, officials said.
It was not clear if the fatalities included the plane's pilot, Wells said. ABC7 reported that the pilot and his teenage daughter were killed, but officials did not immediately confirm that.
A Fullerton Police Department lieutenant said the airplane, which had taken off from Fullerton Airport and was returning to land at the airfield when it crashed, was a homemade four-seater. It was unclear how many people were aboard.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which was investigating the cause of the crash with the National Transportation Safety Board, reported that the plane was a single-engine Van's Aircraft RV-10.
Officials later said the plane was built in 2011, and was a single- engine, aluminum aircraft. Its registration number was N8757R.
In a news briefing later Thursday, Eliott Simpson, an investigator with the NTSB, said the plane was flying under "visual flight rules," with no requirement for a flight plan, and investigators did not yet know the pilot's destination. He said weather did not appear to be any factor in the crash.
"The airplane departed from Runway 24 at Fullerton about 2 p.m. this afternoon, climbed straight ahead to about 900 feet, and a short time later the pilot called for an immediate return to the airport," Simpson told reporters. "The tower controller then cleared the pilot to land on any runway. The airplane then appeared to make a 180-degree left turn and flew the left downwind for Runway 24 and ultimately crashed about 1,000 feet short of Runway 24. It struck a furniture building and immediately caught fire."
Simpson described the RV-10 as a "very popular airplane," with about 1,100 built.
He added that the NTSB's preliminary report would be completed within 14 days, with the final report taking 12 to 18 months.
The building was red-tagged and sustained significant damage from both the crash and the resultant fire, according to Fullerton fire officials.
"Today, our community faced a tragic incident when an experimental aircraft crashed into an industrial building near the Fullerton Airport," the Fullerton City Council said in a statement.
"In the midst of this solemn tragedy, we are profoundly grateful to the first responders who acted with courage and unwavering dedication to protect lives and assist those in need. We deeply acknowledge the efforts of the Fullerton Police and Fire Departments, along with the Buena Park Police, La Habra Police, BNSF Police, Cal State Fullerton University Police, Brea Fire, Anaheim Fire, Huntington Beach Fire, and the Orange County Fire Authority."
Mayor Fred Jung also praised the first responders.
"Your extraordinary efforts remind us of the strength and resilience of our community. As we come together in the wake of this tragedy, the City of Fullerton is committed to providing support for all those affected and working with the agencies involved to uncover the details of this incident," he said.
"We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis. Together, we will move forward with resolve, care, and unity."
In November, a single-engine plane crashed in the 2400 block of Artesia Avenue, also just east of Fullerton Airport, leaving the two people aboard with moderate injuries. That plane also crashed while trying to land at the airport.