Three Killed in Fresno Plane Crash Near Sierra Sky Park Airport
A single‑engine aircraft crashed on a hilltop near Sierra Sky Park Airport in northwest Fresno on Saturday, killing flight instructor Danna Eady, 41, and her two sons, Pavel, 10, and Remus, 13. The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. local time. Eady’s husband, Craig, who was also aboard, survived with severe burns and other injuries.
The wreckage was found on a bluff overlooking the San Joaquin River, close to the far north end of Blythe Avenue. Firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and other emergency responders arrived within minutes of a call from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. The aircraft was a fixed‑wing, single‑engine plane that was on fire when it was brought down.
According to a statement from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the perimeter around the crash site was secured to preserve evidence and allow investigators to work safely. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration also involved. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Eady was a flight instructor from Auberry and had been teaching at Reedley College. She also served as president of the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter. Friends say she had accumulated thousands of flight hours in a short time and had earned several ratings.
Nick Wilcox, owner of Soar Paso flight school in Paso Robles, described Eady as a “dear friend and fellow flight instructor” who had flown with him many times and had even taken his daughter flying. He said the family was on their way to an airshow when the crash occurred.
Craig Eady is expected to undergo a long series of surgeries, rehabilitation and medical care. A SupportNow fundraising page, started by family friend Julie Lovell, states that all money raised will go toward Craig’s ongoing medical expenses, the family’s household needs and any unexpected costs that may arise.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said the aircraft was on a bluff near the river as flames tore across a nearby hillside. The plane was a fixed‑wing, single‑engine aircraft.
The crash has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area. The Sierra Sky Park Airport is a general‑aviation field that serves the Central Valley. The incident occurred near the San Joaquin River, a key waterway in Fresno County.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released the names of the victims beyond the Eady family. The investigation is ongoing.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete. Until then, the cause of the crash remains unknown.
The incident highlights the risks associated with general‑aviation flights in California’s Central Valley, where weather, terrain and aircraft maintenance can all play a role in accidents. The state’s aviation authorities are monitoring the investigation closely.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the NTSB have asked the public to avoid the area until the investigation is finished. The perimeter remains in place.
The tragedy has shocked the local aviation community and the wider Fresno area. Friends and colleagues of Eady have expressed their condolences and noted her dedication to teaching new pilots.
The incident is the latest in a series of small‑aircraft accidents that have occurred in California in recent years. The state’s aviation regulators are reviewing safety protocols for small‑aircraft operations.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash, and the FAA will provide oversight as the investigation proceeds.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, and investigators are working to determine what happened.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the NTSB have requested that the public refrain from approaching the crash site.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report once the investigation is complete.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small‑aircraft operations in the Fresno area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced any additional findings.
The NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Fresno County
