A Cessna 172 aircraft crashed at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego, California, on Sept. 7, killing the two individuals on board. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. local time as the plane was attempting to land.
Video footage from the scene showed the fiery aftermath, with thick, black smoke billowing from the wreckage of the small plane. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department personnel responded to the incident, facing significant damage to the aircraft and a post-impact fire that required their attention. Firefighters worked to quench the flames, and responders were unable to extract the victims due to the severity of the blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. An NTSB investigator was en route to the scene to begin documenting the site and examining the aircraft. The NTSB indicated that preliminary information suggests the aircraft impacted terrain on airport property during a go-around maneuver, a procedure where a pilot discontinues a landing approach to reconfigure for another attempt. The FAA preliminary notice suggests the crash may have occurred after the plane's left wing dipped, followed by an apparent stall and spin into the ground.
The FAA and NTSB will jointly investigate the incident. The aircraft will be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation as part of the investigation process.