Two people hospitalized after small plane crashes in North Sacramento
Original story:
A small plane crashed Wednesday afternoon in North Sacramento’s Robla neighborhood, critically injuring both occupants, authorities said.
The crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. in an open field near Rio Linda Boulevard and Claire Avenue. The aircraft had just departed from Rio Linda Airport, located less than half a mile from the crash site, according to the Sacramento Fire Department.
Both men were transported to Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael.
Capt. Justin Sylvia, a spokesperson for the department, said Thursday that the 70-year-old passenger went into cardiac arrest during the crash. He was revived and remained hospitalized in critical condition.
The pilot, a 40-year-old man, was also hospitalized in critical condition.
Flight data from online tracking site FlightRadar24 showed the single-engine plane, a Piper Cherokee registered to A&R Aero LLC, gained only a few hundred feet of altitude before crashing.
Sylvia said the pilot appeared to maneuver the aircraft into an open field, avoiding nearby structures. No buildings were damaged in the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it had dispatched an investigator to the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration was also expected to investigate the incident.
FAA registration records listed the aircraft’s owner under an LLC with an address in the Natomas Creek neighborhood of Sacramento.
The Bee’s Daniel Hunt and Graham Womack contributed to this story.
This story was originally published December 24, 2025 at 1:04 PM.
CORRECTION: Due to incorrect information provided to The Bee, the story has been updated to reflect that both men aboard the plane survived the crash. The Bee later learned that the passenger had died from his injuries.
