Danna Eady and her husband, Craig Eady, were found outside the plane wreckage near Sierra Sky Park and taken to a hospital, where they died from their injuries in the days following the crash. The couple’s two young sons were pronounced dead on the scene on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Credit: The Eady Family support campaign
More information has been released about the Fresno airplane crash that killed four family members — Danna, Craig, Remus and Pavel Eady — near Sierra Sky Park Airport on Sept. 5.
In a newly released preliminary report, the National Transportation Safety Board said surveillance footage indicated that, prior to ascending, pilot Danna Eady aborted a takeoff about halfway down the runway.
The findings say Eady taxied the plane to the start of the runway before texting the plane’s owner about a radio issue. The owner resided at the airport, and text message logs show the owner contacted a mechanic to examine the plane’s radio before it once again prepared to take off.
Witnesses saw the plane lift from the runway before the front end of the plane drastically pitched upward, per the preliminary report. People near the scene said the engine sounded weak, though no misfires were reported.
In this position, the plane departed at an altitude of between 30 and 40 feet above ground.
The plane crashed about 1,000 feet northwest of the departure end of the runway. The first point of impact was a large branch near the top of a 40-foot tree.
The plane was mostly consumed by impact fire, which also burned about an acre of surrounding terrain. The wreckage is being examined at a secured facility.
Danna Eady, 41, was a flight instructor at Reedley College and the first victim identified in the crash. Her husband, Craig Eady, died of his injuries at a hospital, while Pavel and Remus — their two younger children — died at the scene. The couple also had two other children who were not involved in the crash: Felicity, 18, and Lucien, 17.
This story was originally published September 25, 2026 at 1:21 PM.
The Fresno Bee
Nick Fenley is a reporter covering education, lawsuits, breaking news and more for The Fresno Bee. He’s originally from the Imperial Valley and joined The Bee in 2025.