Simi Valley, CA – A devastating plane crash rocked the Wood Ranch neighborhood of Simi Valley on May 3, 2025, when a small aircraft slammed into two homes, sparking a second-alarm fire and claiming the life of one person aboard. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) responded swiftly to the 1:51 p.m. incident on the 2300 block of High Meadow Street, where the Van’s RV-10, tail number N626PB, was found engulfed in flames. The crash, which damaged homes at 230 and 238 High Meadow Street, has left the community reeling as federal investigators begin probing the cause.
The Crash and Response
At 1:51 p.m. on May 3, 2025, VCFD units were dispatched to reports of a plane crash in the Wood Ranch area, a suburban enclave known for its quiet streets and proximity to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, as noted in your prior queries about Ventura County incidents. Initial callers reported a hillside fire and smoke, but arriving crews, including Rescue Engine 44 from Wood Ranch Fire Station, confirmed a Van’s RV-10 had crashed into two residences, with 238 High Meadow Street sustaining severe damage. “RA41 on scene reporting a plane into a house with smoke showing,” posted @VCscanner on X at 13:59 PDT, followed by a call for a second-alarm structure fire response due to the blaze’s intensity.
Approximately 40 firefighters, supported by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, battled the flames, achieving knockdown within 20 minutes, according to VCFD spokesman Andrew Dowd. The fire had spread through both homes, fueled by the aircraft’s wreckage, but crews successfully prevented further spread to neighboring properties. Post-knockdown, firefighters conducted overhaul and search operations, confirming no victims were inside the homes. Tragically, one person aboard the aircraft was pronounced dead at the scene, with no further details released about their identity or role (pilot or passenger).
The plane, en route from Lancaster to Camarillo, went down for reasons yet to be determined. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating, with teams expected to analyze flight data, wreckage, and witness accounts. A photo shared on X by @NewsSourceLA showed smoke rising from the crash site, underscoring the chaotic scene as emergency responders worked to contain the incident.
The crash stunned Wood Ranch, a community unaccustomed to such disasters, though familiar with wildfire risks like the 2024 Mountain Fire you queried, which scorched 20,000 acres in Ventura County. Residents of 230 and 238 High Meadow Street evacuated safely, a relief echoed in early reports. The absence of injuries on the ground was attributed to rapid evacuations and VCFD’s aggressive response, though the loss of life aboard the plane cast a somber pall.
Traffic along South Wood Ranch Parkway was disrupted as emergency vehicles, including Quint 44’s 75-foot aerial ladder from Station 44, converged on the scene. X users expressed shock, with @AZ_Intel_ noting “initial report of multiple injuries” that was later clarified as unfounded for ground victims. The incident’s proximity to your queried Chatsworth bear sighting and Pacific Palisades plane landing highlights the San Fernando Valley’s recurring role in unusual emergencies, from wildlife encounters to aviation incidents.
Simi Valley, with a population of about 126,000, is no stranger to emergencies, as seen in your Thomas Fire and Sharp Fire queries, where VCFD’s preparedness was critical. The Wood Ranch crash recalls a 2019 Easy Fire that threatened 7,000 homes, driven by Santa Ana winds, a factor absent here but noted in recent 2025 fires like the Palisades and Hughes. The Van’s RV-10, a homebuilt aircraft known for its performance, adds complexity to the investigation, as amateur-built planes have unique maintenance histories, per FAA records.
The incident follows a pattern of aviation emergencies in your queried areas, like the May 2, 2025, Pacific Palisades plane landing at Riviera Country Club, where a pilot’s skill averted disaster. Unlike that event, the Simi Valley crash’s fatal outcome and structural damage amplify calls for scrutiny of small aircraft operations near residential zones. Camarillo Airport, the plane’s destination, is a hub for general aviation, raising questions about low-altitude flight paths, a concern echoed in X posts about airspace safety.