Five people have died after a small plane crashed into a house outside Los Angeles.
It is believed the plane came apart in mid-air before raining debris down upon the neighbourhood in Yorba Linda, Orange County California.
The male pilot of the plane and four people who were in the house – two male and two female – were killed.
Another two people have been taken to hospital with burns – while a firefighter was treated for minor injuries.
A plane crashed in my neighborhood MInutes who #yorbalinda #planecrash #abcnews #cnnnews #news pic.twitter.com/ApabRhrWfB
— Joshua Nelson (@JoshuaRNelson) February 3, 2019
The Cessna 414A took off from the Fullerton Municipal Airport about a dozen miles west of the crash site.
On US media, neighbours described seeing plane parts falling out of the sky and a woman coming out of the burning house with singed hair.
An aviation accident investigator said the main cabin and one engine of the plane had crashed into the house – while the second engine fell on to the street, leaving a large crater.
The main body of the twin-engine plane was found in the garden of another home near the burned house and aerial footage showed plane parts, including side panels and a propeller, scattered across rooftops and driveways.
OCFA, Anaheim, Orange and OCSD on scene of a small aircraft down into a single family house. 1 structure involved, 2 people dead, 2 patients transported to local hospital. OCFA in Unified Command with @OCSheriff_ .
Press Conference TBD pic.twitter.com/F0FzibNcU3— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) February 3, 2019
John Wolbart, who lives nearby, said: "It was a boom. It sounded like something exploded. It shook our house."
Another resident told the Orange County Register he saw the plane on fire and coming apart.
#OCSDPIO Update: confirmed five deceased, male pilot and four individuals inside the home, two males and two females. OC Coroner working to positively identify the decedents and notify next of kin, no additional info at this time. NTSB investigating, investigation ongoing. pic.twitter.com/T5Rm2oxxeQ
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) February 4, 2019
A video posted to Twitter showed horrified neighbours running to the burning house, while one man doused a burning wing of the plane with a garden hose.
Firefighters now plan to search the house in case there are more victims and the cause of the crash will be investigated.
