One dead after plane crashes at Northern California airport. Cause unknown, authorities say

A pilot died in a plane crash Tuesday afternoon at a Northern California airport, authorities said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said a preliminary investigation showed a single-engine Schweizer G-164B crashed about 2 p.m. at Richvale Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board in a social media post also said it was investigating the crash.

Firefighters with Cal Fire’s Butte County unit arrived at the airport, west of Oroville, and found the wreck, according to since-deleted social media posts published by Cal Fire around 2:20 p.m.

The Schweizer G-164B — a biplane typically used in agriculture — crashed under unknown circumstances, the FAA said in a preliminary report.

The pilot was extricated from the wreckage and was the only person aboard. The pilot has not been identified pending next-of-kin notification. Cal Fire officials did not return a call seeking comment and information on injuries or fatalities.

This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 5:33 PM.