Woman, 2 children die after small plane crashes in California
A 41-year-old woman and two children have died after a small plane crashed in central California, on Saturday, September 5, 2026. (Julia Carmona via Storyful)
Two children and a 41-year-old woman have died following a plane crash Saturday afternoon in central California, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reported. A fourth person remains in critical condition.
Big picture view:
Emergency crews had responded to the scene shortly before 2 p.m., after receiving a report that a plane had crashed. When they arrived, first responders found the small, single-engine craft on fire atop a bluff near the San Joaquin River.
Firefighters extinguished the flames before they could spread to the nearby properties. Witness video showed a long trail of damage along the bluff.
What we know:
The two children were pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman and the fourth person, an adult man, were taken to the hospital for treatment, the Sheriff’s Office explained. The woman, who died after arriving at the hospital, has since been identified as Danna Eady, of Auberry, California.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released the names or ages of the children who died in the crash, nor has any information about the man who is still fighting for his life been made available. The Sheriff’s Office also did not indicate whether the individuals were related.
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What's next:
The Sheriff’s Office indicated that the National Transportation Safety Board has responded to the scene to investigate the crash.
The Source: Information for this article was provided by the Fresno County (CA) Sheriff’s Office. This story was reported from Orlando.