1 dead after small plane crashes into homes in California, officials say

SIMI VALLEY, Ca. -- A small, home-built kit airplane crashed successful Simi Valley, California, connected Saturday afternoon, damaging 2 homes and catching fire, officials said.

An unidentified aviator was the lone occupant of the Vans RV-10 that crashed adjacent High Meadow Street and Wood Ranch Parkway astir 2:10 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The aviator died successful the crash, Ventura County Fire Department Public Information Officer Andrew Dowd told reporters astatine a quality conference.

Some 40 firefighters were dispatched and enactment retired the flames, according to the occurrence department.

There were radical wrong the 2 homes astatine the clip of the crash, but they were not hurt, Dowd said.

Shelby Joice told ABC News she lives crossed the thoroughfare from wherever the level crashed. She said she and her parent were watching TV erstwhile they heard what sounded similar a chopper passing over.

"All of a sudden, we heard a large clang and our full location started shaking. We really thought thing crashed into our house," Joyce said.

She said they witnessed a "big, monolithic fireball" and achromatic plumes of smoke.

The level departed from William J. Fox Airfield successful Lancaster and was heading to Camarillo Airport, according to the FAA.

The National Transportation Safety Board volition pb the probe and enactment with the FAA.

Simi Valley is located astir 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles.