Plane Crashes into Woman During Emergency Landing in Park

A quiet afternoon at a Long Beach park turned chaotic Tuesday when a small plane made a desperate emergency landing — and slammed into a woman walking nearby.

The single-engine aircraft came down near Carson Street, just east of Woodruff Avenue, around 4 p.m., scattering debris across Heartwell Park as shocked bystanders called 911.

“I heard this sputtering noise, looked up, and the plane was coming down fast — way too low,” said resident Mark Flores, who was jogging nearby. “Then I saw it skid across the grass and hit someone. It was terrifying.”

Firefighters from the Long Beach Fire Department raced to the scene, finding the plane resting on its belly with its landing gear shattered. Officials said the female pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a local hospital. The pilot and one passenger were also injured but expected to recover.

Authorities have not yet confirmed what caused the emergency landing, though preliminary reports suggest the plane may have experienced engine trouble shortly before crashing.

“We’re very fortunate this didn’t turn into something far worse,” said LBFD spokesperson Capt. Jake Heflin. “The park was busy — kids, families, people walking dogs — and somehow this pilot managed to avoid a complete catastrophe.”

Heartwell Park, a popular recreation area spanning more than 120 acres, was briefly closed as investigators examined the scene and removed the damaged aircraft. The FAA and NTSB have both launched investigations into the crash.

Local resident Angela Ramos said the community is still shaken. “You don’t expect to see something like that at your neighborhood park,” she said. “It could’ve been any of us.”

Officials expect to release more information as investigators work to determine what went wrong in the moments before the crash.