Plane Crash Road Closures To Continue Overnight, Police Say

CONCORD, CA — Local roadways near the site of a fatal plane crash Tuesday near Interstate Highway 242 in Concord were expected to remain closed for several more hours — possibly overnight and into the morning commute, police said.

A plane crash-landed at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Concord Avenue and Diamond Boulevard, prompting authorities in Concord and Pleasant Hill to close Concord Avenue from Contra Costa Boulevard to Meridian Park Lane. Additionally, eastbound Chilpancingo Parkway was closed from Contra Costa Boulevard to the affected area, the Pleasant Hill Police Department said.

At 3:05 p.m., police said closures remained in effect until further notice.

"We anticipate the morning commute will be affected," Pleasant Hill police said. "Please use alternate routes."

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District confirmed just after 11 a.m. that it was on the scene of a crash involving a Vans RV6 in Concord.

"Unfortunately one fatality occurred," Con Fire said.

The pilot was the lone person on board and the lone fatality, authorities said.

The aircraft emergency was first reported at 10:30 a.m. at Buchanan Field Airport, the California Highway Patrol said.

The aircraft was a single-engine plane, according to Steven Kulm, a spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane crash-landed in the roadway near the intersection of Concord Avenue and Diamond Boulevard, just south of the airport.

"One vehicle was found to be involved in the incident," Con Fire said. "The driver was transported with minor injuries."

Concord Avenue was initially closed in both directions from Contra Costa Boulevard to John Glenn Drive, according to the CHP.

The Concord Police Department told the public to avoid the area. Concord Avenue was closed between Meridian Park Boulevard and Interstate Highway 242, while Diamond Boulevard was closed from Burnett Avenue to Concord Avenue, police said.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department advised community members to use alternate routes, as Concord Avenue was expected to remain closed in both directions for an extensive time.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash, Con Fire said.

A Vans RV6 is a two-seat, single-engine homebuilt airplane sold in a kit.

A witness working at a car dealership near the intersection said he was familiar with the airplane and saw it flying almost every day. The pilot seemed experienced and was often seen doing tricks in the plane, William Ross Edwards told CBS. When he saw the plane go down Tuesday he rushed over to see if there was anything he could do to help. By that time there was a crowd forming, he said.

The plane was registered to a Berkeley resident, records showed.

Authorities will release the pilot's name once their next of kin has been properly notified.

At 2 p.m. Tuesday, an NTSB investigator was en route to the accident site to document the scene and examine the aircraft, NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson told Patch.

"The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation," he said.

Knudson asked anyone who witnessed the crash or anyone with surveillance video or other footage relevant to the incident to contact NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.

This is a developing story; refresh the page for the latest updates.