The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
On 10-20-2023 at 6:00 PM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a reported airplane crash at a rural location in the 21000 block of Airport Road in Covelo, CA.
A short time later, Deputies were informed the airplane was on fire and the fire was spreading into nearby vegetation.
Personnel from Cal Fire, United States Forestry Service, California Highway Patrol, and Round Valley Tribal Police Department responded to the crash scene as well.
Once the fire was contained, Deputies began searching the debris field. Deputies located the bodies of two deceased individuals who remain unidentified at this time due to the conditions of their bodies.
Deputies initiated a Coroner’s Investigation specific to Aircraft Accident protocols and contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The circumstances/cause of the crash is currently being investigated by NTSB investigators who were making arrangements to respond to the crash scene upon being notified of the incident by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division will continue Coroner’s Investigation in conjuction with the NTSB investigation.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators are urged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center by calling 707-463-4086.
Previous Coverage
It’s so sad when an aircraft goes down. We’ve lost some wonderful folks and families over the years.
The sad event occurred last Friday, October 20. Still just a sketch of basics, barely. Who died? Why?
We know who died, but they can’t confirm their identity because of how badly burned they were. They have dental records now, so hopefully it won’t be long. Not sure what caused their plane crash yet though.