Auberry, Calif. — A small, single-engine airplane crashed on a bluff above the San Joaquin River on Saturday afternoon, killing two children and a 41-year-old woman and leaving a fourth person in critical condition, Fresno County authorities said.
Responders found wreckage on fire
Emergency crews arrived just before 2 p.m. after receiving a report of a downed aircraft. First responders discovered the plane on fire atop the bluff; firefighters extinguished the blaze before flames could spread to nearby homes or vegetation, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
Witness video circulating online showed a long trail of damage along the bluff where the aircraft came down. Investigators have not released a cause for the crash.
Victims and hospital status
Two children were pronounced dead at the scene. A 41-year-old woman, later identified by authorities as Danna Eady of Auberry, was transported to a hospital and subsequently died. A fourth occupant, an adult man, was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
| Victim | Status |
|---|---|
| Two children | Pronounced dead at scene |
| Danna Eady, 41, Auberry | Died after arrival at hospital |
| Adult man | Hospitalized, critical condition |
Investigation underway
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said the National Transportation Safety Board has responded to the scene to examine the wreckage and determine what led to the crash. The sheriff’s office did not release the names or ages of the children, nor did it confirm whether the occupants were related.
Officials have not provided additional details on the type of single-engine craft, its origin or intended destination. The NTSB typically collects on-site evidence, interviews witnesses and examines maintenance and flight records as part of its inquiry; how long that process will take in this case is unknown.
Local impact and safety response
Fire crews’ quick work to douse the flames likely prevented further property damage along the bluff, which rises above a stretch of the San Joaquin River. Deputies and fire personnel secured the scene and limited access while investigators processed the wreckage, the sheriff’s office said.
Witnesses reported seeing emergency vehicles and a trail of damaged vegetation and earth where the aircraft came down. Officials urged the public to avoid the crash area to allow investigators to work and to prevent interference with evidence collection.
- When: Crews responded shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday.
- Where: Bluff near the San Joaquin River in central Fresno County.
- Aircraft: Described by authorities as a small, single-engine plane.
- Response: Firefighters extinguished the fire; NTSB on scene to investigate.
What authorities have released and what remains unknown
So far, law enforcement has released limited personal information. The sheriff’s office identified only the adult woman who later died, naming her as Danna Eady of Auberry. No ages for the children or identifying information about the hospitalized man have been released.
Investigators have not disclosed whether the craft made a distress call, encountered mechanical trouble, or experienced weather-related issues prior to the crash. Those details typically emerge as the NTSB and local agencies review flight records, maintenance logs and witness statements.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor updates from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the National Transportation Safety Board and will report additional information as it becomes available.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, which is coordinating local investigative efforts.
Kevin Nakamura is the state correspondent for WE NEWS covering central California and statewide public safety incidents.
