2 Die in Crash of Small Plane in Cajon Pass
A small plane crashed in a rugged area of San Bernardino County on Saturday, killing both people aboard, authorities said.
An eyewitness called authorities after seeing the four-seat Piper Warrior go down about 9:45 a.m. It crashed about a half-mile south of Cajon Summit and about a half-mile east of Interstate 15, San Bernardino County fire Capt. Jim Wilkins said.
The plane was flying north and believed to be climbing when it crashed into the side of a hill in extremely rugged terrain.
“It appeared impact was swift and sudden because of how the wreckage was spread out,” Wilkins said. “There was no fire.”
Search and rescue crews had to use ropes to reach the plane in the rugged terrain just below a ridge, said Deputy Julie Park of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.
The plane took off from Redlands Airport, but authorities did not know its destination, she said. The victims were not identified.
Park said weather may have been a factor in the crash because of the rain and a low cloud cover.
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