California Plane Crash Kills 3, Sets Neighborhood on Fire

A small plane crashed into a southern California house on Monday, killing three people, injuring two critically and causing several fires in a residential neighborhood.

The Cessna 310 crashed at about 4:30 p.m. local time shortly after take-off from Riverside Municipal Airport, 60 miles east of Los Angeles, reported Reuters.

The pilot and two passengers died. The two survivors, both women, were found inside the ruined house in critical condition, Riverside Fire Chief Michael Moore said. The house was unoccupied.

TV images of the scene showed firefighters spraying water on several houses ablaze and covering what appeared to be a body with a sheet. At least five families were forced to leave their homes, a local Red Cross official said.

The passengers were from San Jose in Northern California and in the area for a cheerleading event at Disneyland, Moore said.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the plane crashed "under unknown circumstances" shortly after taking off from the airport, bound for San Jose. The incident will be investigated by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board, he said.