Plane Crash Kills Man, Hurts Another

One man was killed and another critically injured Wednesday when their single-engine plane crashed on approach to Corona Municipal Airport, authorities said.

The plane had broadcast on emergency channels that it was experiencing engine failure, said Police Lt. Sam Spiegel.

A witness said he saw the craft flying at about 70 feet above the ground just before it crashed at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Rincon Street, Spiegel said.

Neither man aboard the plane was immediately identified. Authorities said the dead man apparently owned the plane, but they had not determined whether he was piloting it at the time of the crash.

“There was fuel all over the ground,” Spiegel said. “We were very fortunate there was no fire. One wing was torn off, but otherwise it was intact. Firefighters had to use special tools to extricate those on board.”