Four individuals were hospitalized in serious to critical condition following a small plane crash in the front yard of a suburban Denver home as it attempted to land on the street, according to authorities.
The aircraft caught fire upon impact, causing burns to the four passengers on board, as reported by Alex Lemishko, a senior accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. Of the four individuals transported to the hospital from the Arvada crash site, two were adults. It remains unclear whether the other two individuals were adults or children.
No residents of the home, located on a street parallel to railroad tracks, were harmed during the incident.
The 1969 Beechcraft 35 crashed approximately 15 minutes after departing from Centennial Airport in southern Denver, with its intended destination being Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, about 30 miles northwest, according to Mr. Lemishko.
The pilot, who was not identified, reported engine issues shortly before the crash and had planned to land at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, which was likely visible from the air at the time, said Mr. Lemishko.
Instead, the pilot attempted to land on the street in a residential area. The plane’s left wing collided with a large spruce tree, causing the aircraft to skid down the road and enter the yard. Additionally, the plane struck a parked pickup truck, pushing it into the driveway and into another truck, as stated by Aurora Fire spokesperson Deanna Harrington.
Mr. Lemishko noted that a roadway, or even railroad tracks, can serve as a reasonable landing option for pilots when unable to reach an airport.
“I’m sure the pilot’s thought process was ‘I see a roadway, I need to land this aircraft, let’s give it a try,’” he commented.
Firefighters responded to the burning plane at around 9:30 a.m., according to Arvada Fire operations chief Matt Osier.
By Colleen Slevin
