Mon Feb 03 03:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Father and Daughter Killed in Fullerton Plane Crash; NTSB Report Points to Door Malfunction

**Fullerton, CA** – A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report reveals a critical door malfunction as the likely cause of a fatal plane crash in Fullerton on January 2nd, 2025. The single-engine aircraft, a Van’s RV-10, crashed into a warehouse, killing pilot Pascal Reid and his 16-year-old daughter, Kelly, and injuring 19 others inside the building.

The report cites witness accounts and security footage showing the pilot’s door was not fully closed before takeoff. Modifications made to the door’s locking mechanism had disabled a crucial warning system that would have alerted the pilot to the problem. Shortly after liftoff, the door reportedly opened, and the pilot radioed for an emergency landing before the plane crashed.

Witnesses described the plane flying unusually low and exhibiting erratic behavior before the final, fatal descent. The impact resulted in a significant fire. Investigators located most of the wreckage inside the warehouse, with the exception of the left cabin door, which was found on the building’s roof.

The NTSB report indicates that while the plane’s original door locking system included a safety mechanism, Reid’s aircraft lacked a secondary latch system offered as a retrofit by the manufacturer, Van’s Aircraft, in 2010. Further, only half of the door’s warning system sensors were installed, rendering the system ineffective in detecting the incomplete latch.

Kelly Reid, a junior at Huntington Beach High School, was remembered by her soccer coach as a vibrant and positive young athlete. The community mourned the loss of both father and daughter at a vigil held on January 3rd. The NTSB investigation is ongoing.

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