SANTA PAULA, Calif. (KABC) -- Two people died in a small plane crash Sunday night in Santa Paula, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

An official with the Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna C180 departed from Santa Paula Airport just before 8:30 p.m and reportedly lost engine power, struck a power wire and crashed into a riverbed about a quarter mile southeast .

One victim was found in the plane. The other was found nearby. Their identities were unknown.

Fire Capt. Ron Oatman said power lines were downed and the plane was on fire when crews hiked to the site of the crash.

The fire was confined to the aircraft.

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My mother told me not to fly if I could not see the ground.
This could have been  survivable  if the pilot could
have seen the wire. One can almost always pull up and go over
or go under. Don't fly at night.


Paul Lamar