Horrific wreck photos emerge after ‘experimental homebuilt’ plane crashes in California killing the pilot
- A single-engine Vans RV8 plane crashed around 12:40 a.m. Saturday
- It flew from the Corona Municipal Airport and was found less than a mile away
- Only the pilot was on board; their identities have not yet been confirmed
A pilot has died after an “experimental home-built” plane crashed in Southern California, authorities have confirmed.
Gruesome photos show the wreckage of the single-engine Vans RV8, which hit the ground after taking off from Corona Municipal Airport around 12:40 a.m. on Saturday.
The Federal Aviation Authority said only the pilot was aboard the two-seater plane, and an investigation has been launched along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the pilot's identity or the cause of the 20-foot plane's crash.
A pilot has died after an “experimental home-built” plane crashed in California on Saturday, authorities have confirmed as gruesome images of the aftermath emerge
Images of the destruction less than a mile from the airport show the plane was completely destroyed, with its parts barely recognizable in the carnage
The Corona Municipal Airport in California. The crash happened around noon near the intersection of Auburndale and West Rincon streets, the Corona Fire Department said
Images of the destruction less than a mile from the airport show the plane was completely destroyed, with its parts barely recognizable in the carnage.
The Corona Fire Department said the horror crash caused a “vegetation fire” near Auburndale and Rincon, and “multiple units” responded.
Fire officials urged the public to avoid the area, located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, and warned it would “remain closed for some time.”
The aircraft model – a Vans RV8 – is described by the manufacturers as having a “fighter-like feel” with “centerline seating” that can accommodate “big people” up to 6 feet tall and 125 pounds of luggage.
It is the fastest camper model with a maximum speed of approximately 350 km/h, designed for aerobatics and used in intermediate competitions.
The RV8 has a fuel capacity of 42 US gallons, a wingspan of 24 feet and weighs approximately 1,800 pounds.
The Vans RV8 is a 6 meter long two-seater aircraft with a maximum speed of 350 km/h, described by the manufacturers as having a 'fighter-like feel' and designed for aerobatics
Pilots build the plane themselves – a process that manufacturers say takes about 1,500 hours and that “thousands” of customers have done.
The crashed RV8 was described by the National Transportation Safety Board as an “experimental, homebuilt” aircraft.
This is a development story.