A twin-engine Cessna 421C crashed into a row of townhouses in Fairview, Oregon on Saturday morning, August 31, 2024, killing two on board and one on the ground, and igniting a fire that destroyed several homes. The crash occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. near Troutdale Airport, about 11 miles east of Portland.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane, on a maintenance test flight, was en route to the airport when it went down. The pilot reported “controllability” problems shortly after take-off. It struck power lines and a pole before crashing into the residential area. The impact caused a fire that quickly spread, engulfing at least four townhouses and displacing up to six families.
Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis told the media that air traffic control at Troutdale Airport reported an aircraft emergency and then observed a column of smoke to the west of the airport
Lewis confirmed that the plane, carrying the pilot and a passenger, crashed into a row of three-story condo units, with four of them catching fire. Lewis added that the fire had fully engulfed one townhouse, with black smoke pouring from nearby structures. Neighbors reported that Barbara Macdonald, 75, was asleep in her townhouse at the time of the crash, and was killed.
Emergency responders arrived promptly, working to contain the blaze and assist those affected. Two individuals were treated at the scene for injuries, though officials have not disclosed the severity of their conditions.
According to Lewis, the incident escalated to a five-alarm fire partly due to the high temperatures on Saturday, which required fire personnel to take frequent breaks to prevent overheating. In addition to the Gresham Fire Department, crews from Portland Fire & Rescue and the Vancouver Fire Department also responded.
Lewis noted that the crash caused structural damage to the building, limiting the ability of fire crews to work inside as they normally would in a residential fire. As a result, they had to concentrate more on exterior operations using overhead water from a ladder truck. While it was unclear whether fuel from the plane contributed to the fire, the large smoke column reported suggested it was a possibility.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of investigating the cause of the crash. NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson stated that the on-site investigation phase will take two to four days.
He explained that the aircraft hit the ground at an altitude of 1,400 feet above sea level, near the edge of a ridge line. The impact was high-energy, resulting in heavily fragmented wreckage that rolled approximately 700 feet down the other side of the ridge.
Troutdale Airport, overseen by the Port of Portland, is primarily a flight training and recreational facility. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of small aircraft operating in residential areas, prompting discussions on potential regulatory changes.