Small Plane Crashes At Lake Murray Community Church​ In La Mesa

LA MESA, CA — A small plane crashed over the weekend at a church in eastern San Diego County.

The crash was reported at 3:07 p.m. Sunday at Lake Murray Community Church at 5777 Lake Murray Blvd. in La Mesa, according to Heartland Fire and Rescue, which serves the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove.

The plane crashed in the church parking lot, went through a chain link fence and moved downhill, said Andy McKellar, emergency preparedness coordinator for Heartland Fire and Rescue. Two people who had been aboard the aircraft exited the plane.

An American Medical Response ambulance passing by the church at the time of the crash immediately arrived at the scene, McKellar said. Heartland Fire and Rescue arrived shortly after the crash was reported, and La Mesa Police Department and San DiegoFire-Rescue also joined the rescue efforts.

The pilot and passenger were two men about 50 years old. One of the plane crash victims was able to walk up the hill to the ambulance with assistance, McKellar said. The second victim was unable to walk and was taken uphill on a stretcher using a rope-and-pully system.

Both the pilot and passenger were taken to Sharp Grossmont Hospital with moderate injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Gillespie Field was made aware of the crash and the La Mesa Police Department notified the National Transportation Safety Board.