2025 Fullerton plane crash

On January 2, 2025, an aviation incident occurred near Fullerton Municipal Airport in California when a kit aircraft crashed into and through the roof of a furniture manufacturing warehouse facility, resulting in two fatalities, at least nineteen injuries, and a subsequent four-alarm fire. The incident necessitated a large-scale emergency response and the evacuation of numerous warehouse occupants.
Background
On November 25, 2024, less than two months prior to the January crash, a small aircraft crashed into a tree located in the 2400 block of Artesia Avenue, approximately one block from the January 2025 crash site. The November crash resulted in no serious injuries.
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a , described by the National Transportation Safety Board as a four-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt aircraft, part of a series of popular kit-built aircraft manufactured by Van's Aircraft. Kit-built aircraft undergo mandatory Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspection before receiving flight clearance.
The pilot and his 16-year-old daughter were killed in the crash. A total of nineteen individuals on the ground were injured in the crash. Eleven individuals on the ground required hospitalization, while eight others were treated at the scene.
Response
The Fullerton Police Department received its first report of the crash at 2:09 PM PST. Emergency responders evacuated more than 100 occupants from the warehouse following the crash.<ref name":0" /><ref name":1" /> Police also ordered immediate evacuation procedures for the surrounding areas.<ref name=":2" />
The Fullerton Fire Department responded to the four-alarm fire outbreak. Building inspectors subsequently red-tagged the warehouse, prohibiting reentry due to structural concerns.<ref name=":2" />
Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board initiated an investigation immediately following the crash. NTSB investigator Elliott Simpson led the preliminary investigation, noting the kit aircraft type's generally reliable service history.<ref name=":2" />

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