Audio By Carbonatix
A vintage World War II-era plane crashed after departing from an airport in California for a Father’s Day event, killing two people onboard.
In a statement to PEOPLE based on preliminary information, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the June 15 incident involved a twin-engine Lockheed 12A that crashed around 12:35 p.m., local time, after the craft left Chino Airport. They added that two people were on the plane.
The NTSB will be heading the investigation.
In a Facebook post on June 16, the Chino-based Yanks Air Museum, which houses vintage aircraft, said the plane belonged to them.
“Shortly after noon yesterday [June 15], one of our aircraft was involved in an accident in an unoccupied field near Chino Airport resulting in two fatalities aboard the aircraft,” the museum said in a statement.
“At this time we are working with local authorities and the FAA. Yanks Air Museum will be closed until further notice as our family deals with this tragedy, and we appreciate your patience and respect for our privacy as we navigate through this difficult time.”
The incident occurred during the museum’s Yanks Pops and Props event, which was billed as a Father’s Day celebration.
Authorities said the blaze was contained within 10 minutes, before the discovery of the two victims inside the plane, the Associated Press reported.
The coroner’s division of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department confirmed to PEOPLE on June 17 that the victims aboard the plane were Frank Wright, 67, and Michael Paul Gilles, 71.
Chino Valley Fire District battalion chief Bryan Turner said the plane was found 200 yards away from the runway, via ABC News.
A witness told Fox affiliate KTTV that the plane was about 300 feet in the air when it began to incline to the left, saying: "It took a nosedive, and the first part of the plane that hit was the left wing. And what happened was [an] immediate explosion. Like [a] big fireball, black smoke."
Latest Stories
-
GIS raises alarm over abuse of ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol, warns of security threats
25 minutes -
Miss Ghana 2026 auditions set for June 27
31 minutes -
GH₵94bn Negative Equity: Is it time for the Bank of Ghana to think like investors or step too far?
41 minutes -
El Niño under way and threatens weather extremes, scientists say
45 minutes -
PAPSS is the payment backbone Africa’s trade has been waiting for
50 minutes -
SIM re-registration: A business cost or a public burden?
51 minutes -
Reparatory justice and historical honesty: Why Ghana must lead a more courageous conversation
54 minutes -
Peace in Ghana is bigger than any political party
56 minutes -
Barred World Cup referee Omar Artan to officiate UEFA Super Cup final
58 minutes -
Kasapreko IPO oversubscribed by 146%, to list on GSE on June 15th
58 minutes -
International tourism receipts fall 10.14% despite rise in arrivals in 2025
1 hour -
Pavements turned marketplaces leave pedestrians at risk in parts of Avenor, North Industrial Area
1 hour -
EPA and Ghana Customs deepen collaboration on hazardous chemical imports and environmental protection
1 hour -
GH¢7m Navrongo Sports project left abandoned after nearly nine years
1 hour -
Frederick Attakumah elected Ghana Chamber of Mines President, outlines plans to increase gold production
1 hour