Deadly Plane Crash Near Palomar Airport Causes Fire, Blackouts

By Erik Anderson / Environment Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published July 3, 2007 at 3:03 PM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

Two people died this morning when their private plane crashed into an electricity transmission tower near McClellan Palomar Airport. The crash knocked out power to more than 1,700 hundred homes and bu

Two people died this morning when their private plane crashed into an electricity transmission tower near McClellan Palomar Airport . The crash knocked out power to more than 1,700 hundred homes and businesses and started a brush fire.

Carlsbad fire department investigator Kelly Kane says the accident happened while thick fog blanketed the region.

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Kane : We don't know if the plane had problems and came into the power line or if the power line was the main problem. We don't have the cause and effect for that yet. Ultimately the plane contacted the power line, impacted the ground and we lost two people.

The names of the two victims have not been released. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are both investigating the crash. It could be several weeks before investigators determine what caused the crash.