LONG BEACH, Calif. — A woman was set to undergo surgery after she was seriously injured when a small plane crash landed on a soccer field in Long Beach, California, her family said.
The incident happened Tuesday afternoon at Heartwell Park near Carson Street and Clark Avenue.
According to family members, Tiffany Harrison was walking her dog at the time and was hit during the crash landing. The pilot was also injured.
Harrison’s sister, Brittany McFall, spoke with ABC Los Angeles affiliate KABC on Wednesday and said Harrison is deaf and didn’t hear the plane when it crashed.
“We’re very upset,” she said. “It’s almost like an unbelievable story. When we got the phone call that she got hit by an airplane, we couldn’t even believe it because it’s something that doesn’t happen.”
McFall said her sister had to have two blood transfusions due to a deep gash on her leg.
“They had to do surgery to clean it out,” said McFall. “Her pelvis is broken. They had to do surgery for that, and her spine is broken in multiple spots as well.”
“This is very traumatic for her, and she’s probably going to have PTSD because a normal person wouldn’t just … walk in the park and have this freak accident,” she added.
The aircraft, which appeared to be a home-built two-seater, was still at the scene Wednesday morning as crews continued their investigation.
Dennis Lord, the hangar manager at the Compton/Woodley Airport, told ABC7 that the pilot was heading to French Valley with a stop in Long Beach when the plane’s engine went out. He said the experimental aircraft was by no means illegal or unsanctioned.
“They are certified by the FAA,” said Lord. “There’s hundreds of them flying over the Southern California area all the time, and we have a hangar at Compton Airport where we build them. We offer space and members come in, they build, they maintain their aircraft to FAA standards, and they worke perfectly well.”
Lord said the pilot, identified only as a man in his 60s, is recovering and doing well.
“The pilot is a member of our chapter at Compton airport. He’s been teaching safety classes for years up until recently. He’s not an inexperienced pilot,” said Lord.
Eyewitness News reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration for a statement, and the agency replied with an automated message due to the government shutdown.
Meantime, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson released a statement, asking the public to avoid the park area as the investigation continues.
“Our hearts are with both individuals and their families tonight,” read the statement. “We are holding them in our thoughts and praying for their full recovery from this traumatic experience. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Long Beach Fire Department and our first responders, who acted quickly and with great professionalism to provide care and ensure the safety of everyone in the area. Their calm and coordinated response reflects the very best of our city.”
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