Tragedy struck near Petaluma Municipal Airport when a Van’s RV-7A amateur-built aircraft plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff Wednesday morning, erupting into a “ball of flames” and killing both individuals on board. The devastating incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. in a field adjacent to the Rooster Run Golf Course, leaving behind scattered wreckage and a scorched landscape. Witnesses reported hearing the plane’s engine sputtering and seeing it dive before attempting a turnaround, seemingly aiming back for the airport. Despite a visible increase in throttle, the aircraft tragically crashed, immediately igniting in a massive post-impact fire that emergency crews found fully engulfed upon arrival. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation, with the FAA providing assistance, to meticulously examine flight data, communications, maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot experience, and witness accounts to determine the probable cause of this fatal crash, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days and a final report potentially taking up to two years.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
