Paso Robles rancher, pilot, aircraft collector dies in plane crash
UPDATE
A well-known Paso Robles rancher, pilot, and vintage aircraft collector died when the replica biplane he was piloting crashed in a field east of Paso Robles Sunday morning.
54-year-old Javier Arango was the sole occupant of the plane and died on scene.
According to those who knew him, Arango was a prominent pilot in the local aviation community and an avid collector and historian of antique planes.
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum lists Arango as a member of the board.
Arango was also the author of at least one book on a classic, World War I-era aircraft.
The cause of the crash Sunday morning is under investigation by the FAA and the NTSB.
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ORIGINAL POST
One person is dead following an airplane crash near Paso Robles on Sunday morning.
At around 9:00 a.m., a World War I replica biplane crashed north of a residence in a field at 8331 California 46 East.
Cal Fire and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.
The male pilot died in the crash, he was the sole occupant of the plane. The identity of the man has not yet been released.
The plane took off from a private airstrip minutes before crashing.
A coroner investigator and sheriff’s deputies were on scene investigating. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the scene.
No injuries were reported on the ground.
