Two people are dead after a plane crashed into the parking lot of a Chevrolet car dealership on the evening of December 6, 2021.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) incident report shows that the aircraft, with a registration number of N64BR, was a 1977 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain. The aircraft was registered to Donald Sefton, 69 of Fallon, Nevada.
The report also showed that the two fatalities were the pilot and the single passenger. Medford Police confirmed that the pilot was also the registered owner of the aircraft. The passenger has been identified as 67-year-old Valerie Jean Serpa, also from Fallon, Nevada.
No one on the ground was injured or killed.
The Medford Fire Department told local media that at least 20 vehicles were involved in the crash.
Image from Medford Fire Department
“Upon arrival, we had at least 20 vehicles that were fully involved,” said Medford Fire Department Chief Eric Thompson. “We know that the aircraft took off from the Medford Airport, they just filled up with fuel, they had 128 gallons of fuel on board, and the incident occurred only a few minutes after they took off.”
Video footage of the crash was taken by an automotive shop across the road from the crash site. This was given to NewsWatch 12.
Shortly after takeoff from the Medford airport, a plane descended rapidly and at a near-vertical angle before slamming into the Airport Chevy lot. This video was provided to NewsWatch 12 by Kelly’s Automotive. Some viewers may consider this footage disturbing. pic.twitter.com/YSoi6r8VuW
— NewsWatch 12 (@KDRV) December 6, 2021
Some of the damage extent can be seen in this footage:
Multiple vehicle destroyed from crash pic.twitter.com/IWwjb2iB5Q
— MedfordAlert (@MedfordALERT) December 6, 2021
Airport Chevrolet confirmed via social media that while its building was damaged, none of its staff were injured.