Authorities are investigating a small plane crash in the unincorporated Bostonia neighborhood near El Cajon Monday that caused some power outages in the area.
A small plane crashed on the roadway of Pepper Drive near North Mollison at around 7:15 p.m., said Lakeside Fire Protection District Chief, Don Butz.
No injuries or fatalities were reported on the ground. The only fatalities authorities are assuming are those on the aircraft, but there is no information yet on how many were on board, Butz said.
The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.
NBC 7 spoke to some residents in the area who said heard the plane crash near their house.
“We were outside and basically, we heard the plane getting closer. Normally they get loud because we live right by the airport, but it got really, really loud and all of the sudden, we think it could’ve hit our power lines above our house, but we just saw bright blue and orange flashing lights and we heard the electricity running,” said Lauren Watling, a nearby resident. “And then after that, we heard the plane actually crash. We ran out immediately and there was a ton of smoke everywhere. All we saw was fire and smoke.”
Matt Celustka told NBC 7 he heard a plane fly particularly close and was just waiting to hear an impact.
“I heard the pops and I just knew at that point. And I was worried if it hit any houses,” said Celustka. “I went outside with a couple of neighbors just to see, and all I could see were flames in front of houses, up at the top of the street.”
A resident of the area took this photo at the scene of the plane crash showing debris, flames and people on Dec. 27, 2021.
Due to the rain and it being dark, Butz said they could not see if the crash caused any damages to homes but said they found one car with damage.
The plane took out multiple power poles as it crashed and approximately 350 residents in the area are without power. It’s expected to be restored on Tuesday around 6 a.m., according to SDG&E.
SDG&E SDG&E map shows power outages in the El Cajon area, Dec. 27, 2021.
There is jet fuel on the ground and hazmat is at the scene trying to contain the spill.
The Federal Aviation Administration is going to take over the investigation.
In October, a pilot crashed into a residential street in Santee, killing himself and a UPS driver.
After that crash, NBC 7 Investigates scoured through more than 120 NTSB investigation reports and dug up at least 35 plane or helicopter crashes into San Diego County neighborhoods since 2010.
In those crashes, 30 people died and 20 others were seriously injured.
The airport connected to the lion’s share of those crashes is Gillespie Field in El Cajon – there have been at least 16 crashes in surrounding neighborhoods. After that comes Montgomery-Gibbs in Kearny Mesa with at least nine.
It makes sense, Gillespie is one of the busiest small aircraft airports in our area with between 600 and 800 flights per day.
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