On September 16, 2009, at approximately 2:49 p.m. The Santa Paula Police Department received a 9-1-1 call of a plane crash east of the Santa Paula Airport.

Upon arrival, officers were told the plane was last seen hitting the thick brush in the area of the river bottom, located south of the Santa Paula Airport. Officers and firefighters began checking the area for the plane. Due to the large search area and tall, thick brush, a Ventura County Sheriff’s Department rescue helicopter was dispatched to assist in the search.

Emergency crews were able to quickly locate the plane, which had flipped over during the crash landing. The female pilot was the sole occupant in the plane. She received minor injuries as a result of the crash however, she declined medical treatment at the scene.

Due to this incident being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot’s identity will not be released at this time. At the time of this press release, F.A.A. officials are still on scene investigating.

Ryan Smith #1021
Police Sergeant
Santa Paula Police Department