A small twin-engine plane crashed into a residential area Saturday in a suburb of Portland, Oregon, killing two people on board and one on the ground, authorities said Sunday.
The Cessna 421C plane crashed into a row of townhouses near Heartwood Circle in Fairview after experiencing mechanical problems, according to a statement from the Gresham Fire Department.
Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis confirmed Sunday that the pilot of the plane and a single passenger were killed, as was a resident of one of the townhouses the plane crashed into.
The names of those killed were not released.
A small plane crashed into a residential area in Fairview, Oregon, on August 31, 2024.
Jenny Weber
The plane crashed near Troutdale Airport around 10:20 a.m. local time and hit a utility pole or tower, causing a brush fire. The plane then crashed into an attached city hall building and ignited a fire in two structures, before spreading to a fourth, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said at a news conference Saturday.
At least five families have been displaced, with a sixth apartment currently being evaluated, according to Lewis.
Two Portland General Electric transmission lines remained down Saturday afternoon, according to officials.
Fairview is about 15 miles northeast of Portland.
Debris from the crash is scattered over several areas, and the sheriff’s office is securing the scene to assist the FAA investigation.
Images show thick smoke and a burning home after the plane crashed.
In this video screenshot, a fire burns after a plane crashed into a residential area in Fairview, Oregon, on August 31, 2024.
Mike Wooley
A small plane crashed into a residential area in Fairview, Oregon, on August 31, 2024.
Laura Veach
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.