One dead after rural plane crash
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A single-engine aircraft crashed in a rural area of southern Fresno County on Friday, leaving one person dead, according to sheriff’s deputies.
An aerial search of the crash site conducted just before dark did not turn up any other victims, said Sheriff’s Lt. Joseph Blohm.
The Beechcraft plane had taken off from Fresno’s Chandler Airport in the early afternoon. The identity of the pilot, who investigators believe was flying alone, had not been released, officials said.
The plane apparently broke in midair and crashed into a vineyard, witnesses told law enforcement officials.
Initial reports of a collision with another plane or helicopter appeared to be false, as no evidence of other aircraft had been found, said Sheriff’s Lt. Robert Kandarian.
The National Transportation Safety Board was to begin investigating Saturday.
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