A small airplane crashed near San Diego yesterday, killing the pilot and a UPS driver on the ground and destroying two homes.
Freak Airplane Crash In San Diego County Kills Two, Including UPS Driver
The accident occurred in Santee, California located in San Diego’s East County. It involved a Cessna C340, a six-seat propellor aircraft that was traveling from Yuma, Arizona (YUM) to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF) six miles north of downtown San Diego.
Registered under N7022G, the plane was registered to Samarth Aviation LLC and owned by Dr. Sugata Das, a cardiologist who worked at Yuma Regional Medical Center. Flight records reveal that Das routinely mad trips from the Phoenix and Yuma areas to San Diego.
Tragically, the plane crashed in a residential neighborhood, striking a UPS truck and killing the driver. A UPS spokesperson confirmed:
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our employee and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We also send our condolences for the other individuals who are involved in this incident, and their families and friends.”
Awful scene in Santee where a small plane crashed into a UPS truck stopped at a residential intersection, killing the driver and pilot. Two houses were destroyed by fire as residents saved two elderly folks inside a home. pic.twitter.com/3jR1QnOeZ1
— K.C. Alfred (@KCAlfredPhoto) October 11, 2021
Not only did the plane clip the UPS truck, killing the driver, but it ended up destroying two homes. One couple was inside their home when the impact occurred and struggled to get out. A Good Samaritan neighbor named Michael Keeley pulled them out. Both are being treated for burns. Their hair was also singed, but they are alive.
#Santee pic.twitter.com/ytHMMjJxFD
— Matt Gravette (@MattGravette) October 11, 2021
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now onsite to assess the damage and fully investigate the root cause, which is not clear at this point. Weather did not appear to play a role, as it was a pleasant, partly-cloudy day with miles of visibility.
CONCLUSION
What strikes me so much about this accident is what always does: the fragility of life. Imagine a UPS driver going to work and being struck by an airplane. Imagine a doctor making his usual commute only to never return to Arizona. All the COVID-19 precautions in the world did not protect them from this day. That doesn’t mean we should not take reasonable precautions, but it does show how quickly life can turn.
I send my prayers to the families of the deceased. If there is any good that can be found in this bad story, it is the bravery of Keeley in rescuing his neighbors, especially as others simply watched in awe.
image: @MattGravette
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I am a pilot and my hypothesis is that the pilot in this case became overwhelmed resulting in controlled flight into terrain. He never said that he had a problem but he clearly was confused to the point that the controller canceled his landing clearance and tried to vector the pilot away from rising terrain. Neighborhood videos show the plane diving. The ATC recording and neighborhood videos are available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvwt1UpyXXc
Not sure if it is compounded also by the high winds. I am in So Cal right now for work and the winds have been something else. Not a factor for large aircraft but I am sure added to the stress level for this smaller plane.
This isn’t a CFIT accident it’s a loss of control accident. Look at the video clips of the crash. He’s at very close to a 90 deg angle of bank and very nose low.
The weather on the videos looks VFR but it’s also possible their is an overcast layer. I do find it interesting that he seems to be making no effort to recover the aircraft prior to impact.
Psalm 39:4-6
Insightful analysis by AA 777 first officer now posted at: https://youtu.be/3Qp7oSPnnUY