A small plane crash in a Fairview neighbourhood on Saturday morning has left three people dead, including the pilot, a passenger, and a resident of one of the impacted townhouses. The tragic incident occurred around 10:20 a.m. near Troutdale Airport and has sent shockwaves through the local community.
The aircraft, a Cessna 421C, was on a test flight when it crashed into a row of townhouses on Heartwood Circle, according to officials from the Port of Portland. Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis confirmed the fatalities later in the day, identifying the deceased as the pilot, a single passenger onboard, and an individual who lived in one of the townhouses hit by the plane.
Witnesses described the harrowing scene that unfolded. Frederick Gilbert, who was outside when the crash occurred, recounted hearing the deafening roar of the plane’s engine before seeing an explosive fireball. “There was an instant fireball. I’ve never seen a fire go so fast,” Gilbert said. “I felt it slam against the side of the building. My wife was inside. When I came around the corner, there was a huge fireball.”
The crash caused extensive damage, completely engulfing one townhouse in flames and displacing five families. Despite the intensity of the fire, firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze within an hour. However, the impact was felt far beyond the immediate area; the plane hit a telephone pole before crashing, causing widespread power outages that affected approximately 22,000 people for several hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, which occurred just two miles from where the Cessna took off at Troutdale Airport. Initial reports indicate that the plane had been experiencing handling problems during its test flight, as captured in audio recordings between the plane and air traffic control.
In the recording, the pilot can be heard informing the controller of the handling issues, stating, “We’re having some handling problems – this is a test flight.” As the situation worsened, the controller urged the pilot to land, to which a second voice on the plane replied, “We’re going to try.” Tragically, just seconds later, a separate aircraft reported the crash.
A Troutdale Airport attendant, who had fueled the plane earlier that morning, mentioned that the aircraft had been in and out of maintenance recently. This detail may be crucial as investigators piece together the events leading up to the crash.
The devastating accident has left the Fairview community reeling as they mourn the loss of life and the destruction caused. Officials continue to work at the scene, ensuring that displaced families receive support and that the investigation progresses without delay. Further updates are expected as the NTSB and FAA continue their work to uncover the cause of this tragic crash.
