FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Two people were killed when a small plane crashed in the front yard of a home near the Fresno, Calif., airport, police said.
The Cessna 172 crashed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 800 feet from a runway at Chandler Downtown Airport, the Fresno Bee reported.
The pilot and his nephew died in the crash.
"It's a terrible accident. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family," City Manager Bruce Rudd said in a statement.
No one in the home was injured and the house was not damaged, police said.
Witnesses said the plane hit a tree when it was attempting to land, and parts of the Cessna fell to the ground.
The pilot attempted to regain control but the plane passed the airport and crashed just beyond it, authorities said.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash, said Ian Gregor, public affairs manager for FAA's Pacific Division.
