Pilot in Yorba Linda crash was a former Chicago cop and veteran aviator, daughter says

Peter Knudson, a media relations specialist with the National Transportation Safety Board, left, and air safety investigator Ricardo Asensio review pieces of a Cessna airplane that crashed into a Yorba Linda home. Five people, including pilot Antonio Pastini, were killed.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Feb. 4, 2019 6:41 PM PT

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The pilot whose plane crashed Sunday into a Yorba Linda home, killing four people inside, was identified as Antonio Pastini, 75. One of his daughters, Julia Ackley of Torrance, said her father, who also died, was a veteran pilot.

Maja Smith, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, and air safety investigator Ricardo Asensio inspect pieces of a Cessna airplane that crashed into a Yorba Linda home.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Air safety investigator Ricardo Asensio inspects the propeller and other pieces from a Cessna airplane outside a Yorba Linda home.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Workers from Air Transport of Phoenix remove airplane wreckage from the roof of a Yorba Linda home.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Mary Leef describes seeing the Cessna aircraft explode in the air to Peter Knudson, a National Transportation Safety Board media relations specialist.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)