A small plane crash in Auburn ended in tragedy when a Van’s RV-12, a type of homebuilt aircraft, crashed into the roof of a business just after noon on Thursday, leaving one person dead. The aircraft impacted with such force that all but the plane’s tail was embedded in the structure. T.J. Stuefen, an employee at the scene, recounted the moment of impact to KIRO 7, "All of a sudden, the walls shook and there’s a big bang and alarms went off."
The accident occurred at a building typically bustling with activity, as around 250 people reportedly work there. Fortunately, the area was nearly empty at the time of the crash due to the business being in the process of moving, leaving only two people in the building, both of whom escaped unharmed. "These gentlemen watched the whole thing happen", Stuefen also mentioned to KOMO News, speaking of bystanders who rushed to help but arrived too late to assist the pilot.
Emergency services responded quickly with a Hazmat team called to address a fuel leak, and crews from Puget Sound Energy worked to secure the gas lines, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. The Valley Regional Fire confirmed that the building was damaged but there was no resulting fire from the crash.
The future of the building remains uncertain, and city officials have indicated that the investigation into the crash is ongoing. That portion of the building is likely to remain closed at least through the weekend, while structural evaluations are pending. The plane’s departure point has not been disclosed, although the crash occurred about 5 minutes south of Auburn Municipal Airport. For now, the tragic loss of the pilot is being mourned and the community is shaken by the suddenness of the disaster, that reached so close to claiming even more lives.
The Auburn Police Department is on scene as well. Single male occupant is deceased. https://t.co/bIRfOWMHXT
— Auburn WA Police Dept (@AuburnWAPolice) June 6, 2024
