By Mike Cruz
San Bernardino County Sun
HESPERIA, Calif. — Two people were found dead after a small plane crashed on Summit Valley Road in Hesperia and ignited a small spot fire Friday evening, according to San Bernardino County fire officials.
The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza went down shortly after 5 p.m. on Summit Valley Road near Los Flores Road in the area south of Hesperia Airport, according to Eric Sherwin, a county fire spokesman. Firefighters found two occupants inside the plane dead.
The Bonanza “crashed this evening under unknown circumstances” about a quarter mile south of Hesperia Airport,” according to Tony Molinaro, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman. He had no information about where the plane was coming from nor where it was headed.
The plane caught fire which ignited a small spot brush fire, Sherwin said. Firefighters were able to knock down the fire by 5:45 p.m.
Southern California Edison personnel are on scene to assist. Southern California Edison personnel was also on scene to assist with downed electrical wires.
A vehicle traveling on Summit Valley Road was damaged when it was struck by debris from the crash, according to a San Bernardino County sheriff’s news release.
Summit Valley Road south of Los Flores was shut down and expected it to remain closed throughout the night, according to sheriff’s officials.
The Aviator Cafe at Hesperia Airport posted a message on Facebook announcing that it would be closed Friday evening due to the plane crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified, according to county fire officials. Officials from both agencies were en route the scene for investigation, sheriff’s officials said in a release sent out just after 7:30 p.m.
Further information about the occupants or what caused the plane to go down wasn’t immediately available.
Hesperia sheriff’s station officials suggested citizens avoid the area while the investigation is underway.
Anyone with information about the crash can contact the sheriff’s Hesperia station at 760-947-1500.
Copyright 2018 San Bernardino County Sun