Three people killed in the crash of a twin-engine airplane that went down in a residential neighborhood moments after takeoff from Riverside Municipal Airport were identified Wednesday by friends and family.
Adine Farelas, 22, along with Nouri Hijazi and his wife, Dana Hijazi — all of San Jose — perished when the Cessna 310Q crashed Monday in the 6400 block of Rhonda Road, near Beatty Drive, a half-mile east of the airport, causing a fire that destroyed two homes.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
“We are currently focused on gathering perishable evidence, such as witness statements and wreckage and site documentation,” agency spokesman Terry Williams told City News Service. “A preliminary report will be issued in approximately five business days.”
Anyone with information was urged to email the NTSB via witness@NTSB.gov .
Farelas’ Facebook page was overflowing with remembrances and parting messages from those close to her, including her younger brother, Brandon Farelas, who noted that his mother, Silvia, had survived the crash and was recovering well.
The other survivor, Stacey Pierce, remains in critical condition, according to published reports. Her father, Nouri Hijazi, was piloting the aircraft. Both he and his wife were killed on impact.
A GoFundMe benefit was started for the Farelas family, to help them meet funeral and other expenses. A separate GoFundMe drive was initiated for the Scheck family, who lost their home in the post-crash fire.
Mark and Lori Scheck have three children, 7-year-old twins Landon and Logan and 10-year-old Lily.
Donations to the Scheck and Farelas acounts can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/help-scheck-family and https://www.gofundme.com/farelas-family-fund# , respectively.
The crash happened about 4:40 p.m., immediately after the Cessna departed Runway 9 on an eastbound track in overcast conditions with light rain.
All on board were returning to San Jose. They had come to Southern California for a cheerleading conference at Disneyland attended by Adine Farelas’ younger sister.
Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim hosted the United Spirit Association Junior Nationals cheerleading competition over the weekend.
The 42-year-old aircraft was registered to Hijazi, bearing the tail number N1246G. The plane had a valid airworthiness certificate, according to the FAA.
The agency’s records indicated that Hijazi held an airline transport pilot certificate with a multi-engine rating, meaning he could fly commercially. He was also a certified flight instructor with an instrument rating and had received his last flight medical exam on Oct. 18. He passed the physical.
Riverside officials held a news briefing Tuesday to describe how first responders handled the crash.
“The plane struck the right front corner of the house,” Riverside Fire Department Capt. Tyler Reynolds told reporters. “The victims were ejected.”
More than 60 firefighters converged on the location within minutes, pulling one woman out of a bedroom and another out of the front yard, as flames raged inside the home that was struck. A neighboring single-story residence also caught fire. Neither house was occupied at the time.
Reynolds said three aboard the Cessna were pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the survivors suffered extensive burns and was admitted for treatment at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, Reynolds said. The exact injuries to the second survivor, who was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, were unclear.
The fire, fueled by hundreds of pounds of aviation gasoline, charred an entire residence and most of the adjacent one. Two other homes also sustained damage but were completely intact, according to the fire captain.
The entire block of about 40 homes was evacuated, but most residents had returned Tuesday. Nine people were displaced as a result of the fire. A few were assisted by the American Red Cross, while others received help from immediate and extended family, according to Reynolds.
City Councilman Mike Soubirous, himself a licensed pilot who represents the district where the accident happened, said that he remained confident in the handling of aircraft operations at Riverside Municipal Airport, which records more than 400,000 takeoffs and landings annually.
“The FAA has strict rules, and flight paths are followed properly,” the councilman said.
–City News Service