A small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood just east of Portland, Oregon, causing a fire in a condominium complex. The crash occurred at about 10:20 a.m. in the city of Fairview, about two miles east of Troutdale Airport. Officials reported that the crashed plane was a twin-engine Cessna 421C. Air traffic control for Troutdale Airport had initially reported an “aircraft emergency” and then observed a “column of smoke” west of the airport, leading to the discovery of the crash scene.
The Gresham Fire Chief, Scott Lewis, stated that the plane crashed into a row of three-story condo units, causing four of them to catch fire. It was reported that the plane was believed to be carrying two occupants, but there was no confirmation on whether there were any survivors. One condo unit resident was missing, and two individuals were treated for injuries at the scene. At least five families were displaced from their homes due to the crash, according to Lewis. Additionally, a power pole was downed by the plane, leading to a separate brush fire near a swampy area, although it did not spread.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that the National Transportation Safety Board would lead the investigation into the cause of the crash, while the Gresham Fire Department would also conduct its own investigation. The crash had caused about 9,000 customers to lose power, as two transmission lines belonging to utility provider Portland General were downed during the incident. Despite this, the brush fire near the swampy area did not result in further damage. Fairview, where the crash took place, is located approximately 15 miles east of downtown Portland.
Faris Tanyos, a news editor for CBSNews.com, provided information on the incident. Tanyos handles writing, editing, and tracking breaking news stories for the online platform. Prior to his current role, he worked as a digital news producer at various local news stations across the West Coast. His reporting shed light on the details of the small plane crash into the residential neighborhood in Fairview, Oregon, emphasizing the impact it had on the residents of the area and the subsequent investigations that will take place to determine the cause of the crash.
