A Moony M20J 201 experienced engine problems on takeoff from runway 25 at Woodlake Airport (O42), Woodlake, California, and crashed when attempting an impossible turn on Saturday, 23 May 2026.
The pilot perished and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
A federal agency is now taking over an investigation into Saturday morning’s fiery Tulare County plane crash.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Sunday morning that one person was killed and their identity is not being released at this time.
Around 11 a.m., several state and county agencies arrived near Road 204 and Avenue 336 to find a small plane engulfed in flames and smoke.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told Action News it opened an investigation involving a Mooney M20J airplane that officials say departed Woodlake Airport and crashed when attempting to return to the airport.
Woodlake resident Makayla Hernandez witnessed the crash and captured it on video.
She said she saw the plane go down from a storage center about a mile away from the crash site and described the moments leading up to the crash.
“We had seen it kind of like whirl around like a little bit too low into these orchards. And that’s when we had seen it kind of flip over and go straight to the ground,” she said.
Hernandez said she was with her mother when they noticed the plane descending abnormally, followed by a large plume of black smoke.
The pair drove toward the crash scene to see if they could help and called 911.
Hernandez said emergency crews responded within minutes of her call.
Authorities said the response was complicated because the aircraft struck multiple power lines, creating a dangerous situation for first responders.
Crews had to wait until SoCal Edison workers shut off electricity before approaching the scene.
The downed lines caused a power outage affecting 18 customers for several hours.
In a statement, a SoCal Edison spokesperson said, “Our thoughts are with the family and friends impacted by this tragic plane crash… crews are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. We remind the public: if you see a downed or dangling power line-even if it appears inactive-stay at least 100 feet away and call 911 immediately.”
Makayla and her mother say they’re now recovering from the emotional toll of what happened, especially so close to where they live.
“It’s a really scary thing, you know? Like, I never would have thought that something like this would have happened where I would witness it firsthand… just really worried for the family,” Hernandez said.
The NTSB is investigating the crash and expects to publish a full report within 30 days.