Small Plane Crashes Near Runway At RivCo Airport: Cal Fire

FRENCH VALLEY, CA — A man piloting a single-engine Cessna escaped uninjured after the aircraft went down Wednesday afternoon near the end of the runway at French Valley Airport, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded to an emergency reported at 1:55 p.m. near Auld and Briggs roads, near Runway 18 at the airfield, and found the Cessna upright near the runway and the pilot walking around the plane surveying the damage, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

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The pilot was the only occupant in the aircraft and did not sustain any injuries, fire officials said.

It was not immediately clear whether he'd gone down during departure or landing. Winds at the airfield were calm early Wednesday afternoon, with unlimited visibility.

A hazardous materials team, additional engine crews and an ambulance were initially called to the scene but were abruptly cancelled after the initial personnel arrived and communicated with the airman, whose identity was not disclosed.

The airport remained open Wednesday.

French Valley is a non-towered field, leaving coordination of air traffic, including arrivals and departures at the site, to be coordinated among the aviators themselves.

The Federal Aviation and Administration will investigate the crash.

City News Service contributed to this report.