A dual-engine Cessna 421C plunged into a series of townhouses in Fairview, Oregon on the morning of August 31, 2024. The crash resulted in the deaths of two people on the plane and one on the ground and sparked a fire that destroyed several homes. The accident took place around 10:30 a.m. close to Troutdale Airport, roughly 11 miles to the east of Portland.
The Federal Aviation Administration has reported that the plane, which was on a maintenance test flight, was heading towards the airport when it crashed. The pilot relayed “controllability” issues shortly after take-off. Before crashing into the residential area, the plane hit power lines and a pole. The crash set off a fire that rapidly spread, engulfing at least four townhouses and displacing as many as six families.
According to Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis, air traffic control at Troutdale Airport reported an aircraft emergency and then saw a smoke column rising to the west of the airport.
Lewis confirmed that the plane, with the pilot and a passenger on board, crashed into a row of three-story condo units. Four of these units caught fire. Lewis stated that one townhouse was fully engulfed in flames, with black smoke billowing from nearby buildings. Neighbors reported that Barbara Macdonald, 75, was sleeping in her townhouse at the time of the crash and lost her life.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to control the blaze and aid those affected. Two people were treated for injuries at the location, though the severity of their conditions has not been disclosed by officials.
Lewis stated that the incident escalated to a five-alarm fire partly because of the high temperatures on Saturday, which necessitated frequent breaks for the fire personnel to avoid overheating. The Gresham Fire Department was assisted by crews from Portland Fire & Rescue and the Vancouver Fire Department.
Lewis mentioned that the crash resulted in structural damage to the building, making it difficult for fire crews to work inside as they normally would during a residential fire. Consequently, they had to focus more on exterior operations, utilizing overhead water from a ladder truck. While it’s unclear if fuel from the plane exacerbated the fire, the large smoke column reported suggests it could be a possibility.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is spearheading the investigation into the cause of the crash. NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson announced that the on-site investigation phase will last several days.
Knudson explained that the aircraft hit the ground at an altitude of 1,400 feet above sea level, near the edge of a ridge line. The high-energy impact resulted in heavily fragmented wreckage that rolled approximately 700 feet down the other side of the ridge.
Troutdale Airport, which is managed by the Port of Portland, is mainly a flight training and recreational facility. The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of small aircraft operating in residential areas, triggering discussions on potential regulatory changes.
