Four people sent to hospital after plane crashes in yard of Denver home

DENVER – Four people were hospitalized in serious to critical condition after a small plane crashed into the front yard of a suburban Denver home after attempting to land in the street, authorities reported.

The incident occurred in Arvada, approximately 12 miles northwest of Denver, when the 1969 Beechcraft 35 crashed about 15 minutes after taking off from Centennial Airport. The plane, carrying four passengers, burst into flames upon impact, resulting in injuries that included burns, according to Alex Lemishko, a senior accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board.

Two of the individuals taken to the hospital were adults, while the age of the other two passengers remains unknown at this time. Fortunately, no one in the home was injured during the crash, which occurred on a street parallel to railroad tracks.

The pilot had radioed that they were experiencing engine problems shortly before the crash and had intended to land at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, which was within sight. However, the pilot ultimately attempted to land on the residential street, leading to the collision with a large spruce tree and a parked pickup truck.

According to Aurora Fire spokesperson Deanna Harrington, the impact pushed the truck into the home’s driveway and into another vehicle. Despite the pilot’s decision to land on the street, Lemishko noted that choosing a roadway as an emergency landing spot is a reasonable option for pilots facing difficulties reaching an airport.

The plane was engulfed in flames when emergency responders arrived at the scene around 9:30 a.m., as reported by Arvada Fire operations chief Matt Osier. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the cause of the engine problems and subsequent crash.

As the community in Arvada comes to terms with the shocking incident, thoughts and prayers are with the injured passengers and their families as they navigate the road to recovery.