Small Plane Crashes Into Herndon Apartment Building

HERNDON, VA -- Three people were injured and 20 residents displaced when a small plane crashed into an apartment building just outside Herndon early Friday morning.

Resident Vanady Mitchell, who lives two buildings away, recalled her apartment shaking late last night.

• Watch: Plane Pulled from Herndon Apartment Building

"I was awake when it happened. I heard a really loud noise but I didn't think much of it because the airport is close by and planes fly over all the time," she said.

"The building shook a bit but I went to bed, and when I woke up I heard there was an airplane crash," she told Patch.

• Residents of Herndon Apartment Where Plane Crashed 'Shaken'

The plane in Virginia was one of two small aircraft that crashed into dwellings overnight. The other crashed in Eatonville, WA, and, as in Virginia, only injuries were reported.

Virginia State Police identified the pilot of the plane as William Larson, 61, of Vienna. He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

• Photos: Herndon Plane Crash

The plane’s only passenger, Tache L. Alejandro of Orlando, FL, suffered only minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

One resident of the apartment is also being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Workers used a large crane to remove the plane from the building.

Officials say the plane was attempting an emergency landing at nearby Dulles International Airport when it crashed.

The plane, a Cessna 177B, hit the top level of a garden apartment at 2232 Astoria Circle in the Dulles Green Apartments.

David Ventura, who lives in the apartment, told NBC4 that he was in shock when he discovered a plane in his living room. He says he walked into the room and asked the pilot if he was OK.

• Residents Take to Social Media after Herndon Plane Crash

The American Red Cross is assisting residents of the building who have been displaced.

According to public information officer Corinne Geller, Larson and Alejandro work for an aerial photography company and had been in the air taking infra-red photographs when the plane experienced electrical problems and the engine cut off.

Because the plane was also running low on fuel, Larson had contacted Dulles Airport to re-route its destination. Originally the plane was to land at the Manassas Regional Airport. The plane had departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

Our sister Patch site will have more information on this story as more details are known.