Plane from fatal Concord crash was homebuilt, occupant was Bay Area native, NTSB says

ByRyan Curry KGO logo
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Plane from fatal Concord crash was homebuilt: NTSB
In an afternoon press conference on Wednesday, officials confirmed that the solo occupant of the plane was a Bay Area native and that the plane itself was homebuilt.

CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) -- Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board are giving an update after one person died in a small plane crash Tuesday in an intersection near Buchanan Field Airport in Concord.

In an afternoon press conference on Wednesday, officials confirmed that the solo occupant of the plane was a Bay Area-native and that the plane itself was homebuilt. The victim was identified as Jacek Romanski, 75 years old, out of Berkeley.

MORE: 3rd body found near Half Moon Bay plane crash site that killed 4, officials say

The NTSB and FAA are currently still investigating the crash.

The Van's RV-6 aircraft is in the road near the intersection of Concord Avenue and Diamond Boulevard.

According to FlightAware, a plane with the tail number that's matching the one in the crash was doing a maneuver called touch-and-go. The fire department says they also heard reports of that prior to the crash, and it appears this plane did nosedive shortly after taking off. Buchanan Airfield is a few blocks away from the scene.

Fire crews respond to a small plane crash near Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, Calif. on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
Fire crews respond to a small plane crash near Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, Calif. on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
KGO-TV

"It had just taken off from the airport," said Contra Costa Fire Batt. Chief Kevin Platt. "I've heard conflicting reports that it was doing touch-and-gos or had taken off several times already, I don't know. But this time it had just taken off and it took what was reported to us as an abrupt nosedive."

There was significant damage in and around the area where it crashed. Contra Costa Fire says that a car was clipped, and the driver of the car treated for minor injuries.

The Pleasant Hill Police Dept. says that it closed Concord Ave. between Contra Costa Blvd. and Meridian Park Blvd. in Concord through the night.

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