Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In Riverside Neighborhood

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA) – The pilot of a small plane was killed in a crash in a residential area of Riverside Saturday afternoon.

Riverside Fire Department crews responded to the scene in the 10500 block of Robinson Avenue around noon.

The male pilot was the sole occupant, according to Riverside police.

The plane crashed between two trees in the backyard of a home. Debris from the plane hit the home, which sustained minor damage.

Officials said residents of the home were inside at the time of the crash, but no injuries were reported.

The FAA said the place was a twin-engine Beechcraft BE-50.

The plane was scheduled to fly from Chino to Apple Valley. The pilot reportedly radioed Riverside Airport that he was having engine trouble.

CBS2's Greg Mills reported from,the scene. He spoke to witnesses who saw the plane come down and crash into the ground nose first.

"It looked like it was gonna come and hit us," said Albert Ortega.

He and his friend Joshua Nunnally watched in horror as the plane crashed just two houses away from where they stood.

"It was flying kinda low and sputtering," Nunnally says. "The plane was dipping down. But he tried to pull up to save himself. And he pulled up and it fell straight out of the sky and hit straight into the ground."

Residents of the neighborhood ran to help the pilot.

"We ran over there seeing what we could do," says Nunnally, "hoping for the best but when we got there, there was nothing we could do about it."

They checked to see if there was anyone else in the plane and realized they were also in danger.

"The longer we took," says Manny Bautista, "the more gas started spilling out."

Firefighters were amazed that there was no fire and that no homes were hit and no one on the ground was hurt.