In this photo provided by Portland Fire & Rescue, firefighters are seen using hand lines to extinguish a fire near the primary structure after a small plane crashed in Fairview, Ore., on August 31, 2024. | Photo credit: AP
Three people were killed when a small plane crashed into a row of townhouses in a neighborhood east of Portland early Saturday (Aug. 31, 2024), setting the homes on fire, officials told KATU-TV.
Officials earlier said there were two people on board the plane and at least one occupant was missing.
Photos and video published by KGW-TV in Portland showed a townhouse on fire while black smoke billowed from nearby homes. Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis said the fire had spread to at least four homes, displacing six families. He said two people were treated at the scene, but he did not specify the type or severity of injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a twin-engine Cessna 421C that it said crashed about 10:30 a.m. near Troutdale Airport, about 30 minutes east of Portland.
According to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the plane knocked down a pole and power lines, setting a nearby field on fire. The plane broke into several pieces as it crashed into a residential area of the town of Fairview, home to about 10,000 people.
Lewis said the first calls about the fire came from Troutdale Airport’s control tower staff, who saw a thick plume of smoke rising into the air. But Lewis said initial reports indicate “there was no call for mayday or emergency” before the plane crashed.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the accident. Spokesman Peter Knudson said the agency has sent two investigators to the crash site who will document the wreckage. He did not provide further details about the accident.
The website of the Port of Portland, which oversees general aviation and maritime operations in the Portland area, describes Troutdale Airport as a “flight training and recreational airport”.