Oregon plane that crashed Saturday was bound for Watsonville: Redding Fire Department
The single-engine plane that crashed Saturday morning in a field south of Redding Regional Airport was on its way to Watsonville when it experienced engine trouble, Redding Fire Capt. John Houston said.
The 1960 Cessna 210 plane departed from Salem, Oregon, and was cruising about 7,000 feet over Redding when the plane had engine trouble, Houston said Monday.
“All of the sudden the engine quit on him. He tried some troubleshooting” before the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing, Houston said.
Emergency crews were dispatched to a field south of Kent’s Meats & Groceries just before 9 a.m., Houston said.
The pilot, whose name has not been released, suffered minor injuries and was checked by paramedics at the scene, Houston said. The pilot was the only person on the plane.
“He (pilot) said he doesn’t fly it very much, maybe 50, 60 hours a year, and that he was flying down to Watsonville to visit family,” Houston said.
The Federal Aviation Administration data base says the Cessna is owned by Victoria Doyle in Salem, Oregon.
The plane was badly damaged and was moved from the field to the airport where it is being held for the investigation into the crash, Houston said.
The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA have taken over the investigation.
A preliminary crash report from the FAA said the plane experienced engine trouble before it crashed.
FAA spokesperson Mina Kaji said the NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding Fire: Oregon plane was bound for Watsonville when it crashed
