HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA. (THECOUNT) — In a devastating incident on Thursday, January 2, 2025, a small aircraft, identified as a Van’s RV-10, crashed into the roof of a furniture manufacturing warehouse in Fullerton, California. The victims, identified on Friday, were Pascal Reid, a pilot from Huntington Beach, and his 16-year-old daughter, Kelly Reid, both of whom were killed in the accident.
Kelly Reid was a junior at Huntington Beach High School, known for her involvement in varsity sports, including soccer, lacrosse, and flag football. Her father, Pascal, was piloting the plane when the incident occurred. Social media posts from Huntington Beach High School’s girls’ soccer and flag football teams mourned the loss, highlighting Kelly’s compassionate nature and her father’s supportive presence at her games.
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The tragic event unfolded shortly after the plane took off from Fullerton Municipal Airport. Pascal attempted an emergency landing but crashed approximately 1,000 feet short of the runway onto the Michael Nicholas Designs warehouse located on the 2300 block of West Raymer Avenue.
The crash not only resulted in the loss of Kelly and Pascal but also caused injuries to 19 employees inside the warehouse. Some of the injured suffered from burn injuries, with 11 individuals being transported to hospitals, while eight others were treated and released at the scene. An employee, Edwin Cano, described the severity of the injuries, mentioning a coworker whose hair and shirt were burned off during the incident.
The crash ignited a fire within the building, necessitating an evacuation of nearby structures and a response from firefighters who worked to extinguish the blaze. The warehouse was subsequently red-tagged, indicating it was unsafe for occupancy, as investigations continued.
Aviation authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), are investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest the plane experienced an emergency shortly after takeoff, leading to the attempted return to the airport. Audio recordings captured Pascal’s panic during the emergency, with his last words being, “Oh my God…”, before communication was lost.
The NTSB’s Eliott Simpson noted at a press conference that the plane attempted a 180-degree turn back towards the airport, but it did not make it, crashing short of the runway.
Following the tragedy, a vigil was held at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach on Friday, January 3, 2025, to honor Kelly and Pascal Reid. The community and school sports teams expressed their grief, celebrating Kelly’s life and her impact as an athlete and a compassionate individual.
The wreckage is set to be removed from the warehouse for further examination at a remote storage facility to aid in understanding the factors that led to this tragic aviation accident.
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