UPDATED: PERRIS: Plane smashes into fuel tanker in Perris Valley Airport crash
By Trevor Montgomery on May 24, 20172 Comments
UPDATE: Wednesday, May 24, 10:50 p.m.
The twin-engine turbo-prop was heavily damaged after the accident. Hayes photo
PERRIS — Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Cpt. and Public Information Officer Lucas Felman provided additional information about a plane crash that happened earlier today, May 24. The crash happened at the Perris Valley Airport on the 2000 block of Goetz Road in Perris.
“As the plane was landing it came in contact with a fuel truck,” Felman explained from the scene. “As it did, it ripped off half of the wing and then spun itself around.”
After smashing into the fuel tanker and spinning, the plane came to rest a mere 100 yards from a large building. “If it (had gone) any further it would have collided into that building, potentially injuring many people,” said Felman.
Although the fuel tanker was damaged, no fuel was spilled from it or the airplane, according to the fire captain, who said FAA investigators had already arrived at the scene and assumed the investigation into the cause of the minor-injury accident.
A damaged fuel tanker can be seen in the background, with tire skid marks from where the plane spun around before coming to rest. William Hayes photo
ORIGINAL STORY: BREAKING: PERRIS: Two walk away after plane crash at Perris Valley Airport
Most of the plane’s right wing was torn off in the crash. Pete Torres photo
PERRIS — One person was slightly injured and another walked away unharmed after a plane crashed this afternoon at the Perris Valley Airport. The crash, that ripped one wing completely off the heavily damaged plane, happened Wednesday, May 24. The regional airport is located on the 2000 block of Goetz Road in Perris.
The small, privately owned and operated airport is open to public use and is best known for Skydive Perris, which operates out of the location. The company has a grass parachute landing zone about 50 feet from the airport’s single runway.
Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and Riverside County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the airport at 3:55 p.m., after Riverside County emergency dispatchers received reports of an aircraft down at the location.
Twelve firefighters from two engine companies responded to the air emergency, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Tawny Cabral said in an incident report. They were assisted by the Riverside County Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team and Hazardous Materials Support Unit as well as the Riverside County Environmental Health Department.
One of two occupants from the plane sustained minor injuries. Pete Torres photo
“The first arriving engine company advised one passenger aircraft was down,” said Cabral. Two occupants were in the plane when it crashed and had already exited the plane by the time officials began arriving.
Firefighter/paramedics evaluated and treated one injured victim at the scene, whose injuries were described as minor. Both occupants from the plane declined further medical treatment.
After the crash, the heavily damaged plane could be seen sitting on the runway, with law enforcement, fire and other officials surveying the wreckage.
The plane, a 1976 de Havilland “Twin Otter” DHC-6 was missing most of its right wing and had sustained other substantial damage; including to the landing gear, nose, tail section and left wing.
FAA records indicate the twin-engine, turbo-prop is owned by PM Leasing Inc., which shares an address with Skydive Perris. It was not immediately known who the plane was leased to; however, Skydive Perris was clearly marked on the plane’s fuselage.
FAA and NTSB officials are reportedly headed to the scene of the crash to conduct an investigation into the cause.
The last plane known to have crashed at the airport happened during the 40th anniversary celebration of Skydive Perris Saturday Sept. 3.
In that incident, a Vintage WWII warplane ended up nose down in the dirt after suffering what officials at the time called a “hard landing.” The pilot in that crash walked away uninjured.
Status: Preliminary
Date: Wednesday 24 May 2017
Time: 22:51 UTC
Type:
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
Operator: Perris Valley Aviation
Registration: N708PV
C/n / msn: 489
First flight: 1976-04-27 (41 years 1 months)
Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Airplane damage: Substantial
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Perris Valley Airport, CA (
United States of America) Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature: Parachuting
Departure airport: Perris Valley Airport, CA, United States of America
Destination airport: Perris Valley Airport, CA, United States of America
Narrative:
The DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 was operating skydiving flights out of Perris Valley Airport, California, USA. Upon returning to the airport, the aircraft was involved in an accident.
Precise circumstances are unclear. Local news sources suggest the aircraft encountered a dust devil on landing and hit a gas truck.
Photos from the scene show that the right hand wing had separated just outboard of the no.1 engine, the nose landing gear was sheared off and the nose section was heavily damaged.
Source: http://myvalleynews.com/local/updated-perris-plane-smashes-into-fuel-tanker-in-perris-valley-airport-crash/