Laguna Man Killed in Crash of Light Plane : Accident: Aircraft has engine trouble and strikes a transformer near Corona. Power is cut off for 1,100 homes.

A Laguna Beach man was killed Friday afternoon when his light plane crashed into a power transformer near here, authorities said.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the victim as Terry Bruce Rensen, 44, a former real estate broker.

The crash near ther Devore Freeway south of the Riverside Freeway was reported at 3:45 p.m. Friday, FAA duty officer Jerry Johnston said.

Rensen’s Cessna 152 apparently had engine failure and crashed into the Southern California Edison Co. transformer on property owned by the Pacific Clay Co., Johnston said.

A press release issued by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the pilot “had been circling the area for about 30 minutes and had notified Ontario (Airport’s) approach control and advised them of engine trouble.”

Officials said the plane was en route to Orange County from Bullhead City, Ariz.

“The fire crews were waiting for Edison crews to turn off the power . . . for double grounding of the entire power plant,” said Battalion Chief Ted Pfeiffer of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection-Riverside County Fire Department.

About 1,100 electric customers were without power in El Cerrito village because of the crash, according to a sheriff’s spokeswoman.

The plane was flying near Lake Mathews when the crash occurred, Johnston said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are both investigating.