Airplane accident
Details
Event title
United States - 2 children dead, 2 adults in critical condition after plane crashes in northwest Fresno
Source
Severity
Low
Event date (UTC)
2026-09-06 08:06:56
Last update (UTC)
2026-09-06 08:06:56
Area range
Local event
Address/Affected area(s)
near Sierra Sky Park Airport, Fresno, Fresno County, California
Two children are dead and two adults are in the hospital after a small plane crashed in northwest Fresno.
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened around 1:50 p.m. Saturday near the Sierra Sky Park Airport on Blythe Avenue.
Multiple agencies, including the Fresno Police, the Fresno Fire Department, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office and the North Central Fire Department, responded to the crash.
When first responders arrived, they found the plane on fire atop the bluff of the San Joaquin River.
Firefighters immediately worked to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
Four people were aboard the plane. Two adults were taken to the hospital for their critical injuries. The two children were pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials say the victims' identities and their relationship to one another are unknown at this time.
Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi released the following statement on Facebook:
Power was briefly knocked out for nearby residents during the time of the crash but has since been restored, according to PG&E's outage map.
The National Transportation Safety Board is taking over the investigation. The Fresno County Sheriff's has established a perimeter to preserve the crash site for the federal investigation.