Headline: Small Plane Crash in Riverside County Claims Six Lives During Second Landing Attempt
Subheading: Victims identified as beloved community members and passionate pilot
Murrieta, Calif. – Tragedy struck on Saturday morning when a small plane crashed in Riverside County during its second landing attempt at the French Valley Airport. The six victims on board have been identified, and their loss has left the community in shock.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that a 1979 Cessna C550 business jet had departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas around 3:15 a.m. The airplane was scheduled to land at the French Valley Airport but encountered a marine layer that enveloped the area shortly before its arrival. At approximately 4:15 a.m., the plane crashed, killing everyone on board.
The Riverside County sheriff’s-coroner office released the names of the victims on Sunday. Among them were Abigail Tellez-Vargas, 33, of Murrieta; Riese Lenders, 25, of Rancho Palos Verdes; Manuel Vargas-Regalado, 32, of Temecula; Lindsey Gleiche, 31, of Huntington Beach; Alma Razick, 51, and Abraham Razick, 46, both of Temecula. Abraham Razick, who owned Fullerton Ford in Orange County, was remembered by his dealership as a beloved boss, father, and Marine. The post paid tribute to his commitment to the community and his unwavering values.
Two other victims, Manuel and Abigail Vargas, were identified as a married couple from the Inland Empire who leave behind five children. Although Manuel Vargas was a pilot himself, he was not flying the plane at the time of the crash.
According to Eliott Simpson of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot had reported to air traffic control that a missed approach was necessary due to the inability to see the runway. The aircraft was cleared to attempt another landing after its initial approach. Unfortunately, it crashed just 500 feet short of the intended runway and caught fire upon impact. Witnesses confirmed the dense fog in the area on that fateful morning, which created challenging conditions for pilots attempting to land.
Patrick O’Neil, who works at Moon Valley Nurseries near the French Valley Airport, described the fog as equivalent to a snowstorm where visibility was extremely limited. This tragic incident occurred just days after another plane crash near the same airport, in which a pilot lost their life. Both incidents remain under investigation.
The loss of these six individuals has deeply affected the community, leaving many mourning their untimely deaths. As investigators work to determine the causes behind these crashes, family, friends, and the community at large will continue to honor the memories of those who perished in this devastating accident.
In times like these, it is important for communities to come together, offering support and strength to those affected by such unimaginable loss.