Tragedy struck Humboldt County late Tuesday morning when a small plane, identified as a single-engine Cessna 206, crashed near the Kneeland Airport, shortly after departing from Sacramento's McClellan Park, ultimately claiming the lives of two people on board. According to KCRA 3, the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m., and the victims were employees of Amentum, a company that provides aviation services to Cal Fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration has yet to publicly disclose what might have led to cause the accident. The primary investigation is now in the hands of the National Transportation Safety Board, tasked with piecing together the unfortunate sequence of events. A small vegetation fire, sparked by the crash, was also reported by Cal Fire, adding a secondary layer of response needed by the emergency services. In a memo obtained by KCRA 3, Cal Fire expressed their shared grief, stating that "our hearts are broken for aviation," and acknowledging the critical partnership they shared with Amentum in wildfire management operations.
A spokesperson for Cal Fire conveyed their condolences, emphasizing the value of their partnership with Amentum. "They provide great resources. We are lucky to partner with them, and we are thinking of their families," the spokesperson told KCRA 3. Meanwhile, officials from both the FAA and Cal Fire confirmed that the two individuals aboard were contractors with Amentum Aviation, as outlined in a CBS News Sacramento report.
