Door Found Ajar on Kit Plane After California Crash that Claimed 2 Lives and Injured 19

FULLERTON, Calif.—A recent preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board indicates that the homebuilt airplane involved in a crash at a California warehouse earlier this month may have had a door partially open during flight.

The Van’s RV-10 was attempting an emergency landing shortly after takeoff on January 2 from Fullerton Municipal Airport, located south of Los Angeles. The accident resulted in the death of the pilot and his teenage daughter, while also injuring 19 individuals within a furniture manufacturing facility.

According to the NTSB report, released on Wednesday, the door, which opens upwards, had been modified in a manner that compromised a warning system meant to alert the pilot if it was not securely closed.

Investigators are relying on witness accounts and dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle to analyze the moments leading up to the incident. The NTSB typically publishes preliminary findings within weeks following a plane crash, with a comprehensive report to follow months later.

One witness at the airport remarked that the plane seemed to be flying “at a lower altitude than would be expected given its distance down the runway.” He also noted that the aircraft’s left door was open and elevated, as detailed in the report.

“He then observed an arm reaching up to pull the door down. By this point, the airplane was far enough away that he could no longer see what transpired,” the report indicated.

Witnesses from another angle reported seeing the plane “flying lower than usual and banking sharply to the left,” which raised concerns that it could stall.

“The airplane then rolled to the right as its nose descended, plummeting toward the warehouse, where it crashed in a fireball,” the report elaborated. Witnesses also noted that just before impact, they observed a white, panel-like object fall from the aircraft.

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot informed the air traffic control tower: “Immediate landing required.”

Initially, he indicated a preference to land on Runway 6, but the air traffic controller indicated that both Runway 6 and Runway 24 were clear. The pilot opted for Runway 24. Seconds later, panicked gasps and a startled “Oh my God” could be heard just before the transmission ceased.

At the time, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the aircraft requested a return to the airport at an altitude of about 900 feet (274 meters). It ultimately crashed approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters) short of Runway 24, colliding with a large warehouse owned by Michael Nicholas Designs.

The two individuals on board, pilot Pascal Reid and his 16-year-old daughter Kelly, sadly lost their lives. Eleven people on the ground were hospitalized, while eight others received treatment on-site; their injuries ranged from minor to quite severe.

The Van’s RV-10 is a widely recognized homebuilt airplane that is available as a kit. Investigators confirmed that Reid was the owner of the aircraft, which was constructed in 2011.