BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — According to reports, a pilot was killed in a plane crash near Lerdo Highway and Driver Road near Shafter.
Kern County Fire Department and additional first responders responded to reports of a plane crash at about 11:56 a.m. Wednesday. The plane crash was just northwest of Minter Field Airport and Museum. A Kern County Fire Department Hazardous Materials truck was seen near the scene of the crash.
Officials are not sure what may have caused the crash and have not released the identification of the person who died.
“The fire was extinguished; the NTSB AND THE FAA were notified for investigation purposes,” said Josh Stinnett, Battalion Chief, KCFD.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be at the scene of the crash Thursday.
Peter Knudson, Public Affairs Officer with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated that a preliminary report for its ongoing investigation of the Ayres S-2R airplane crash in Shafter will be made available on Wednesday, Nov. 17th, two weeks after the plane crash.
Probable cause won't be determined until after the investigation has concluded which can take between 12-24 months.
The National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the crash site on Thursday. According to Knudson the wreckage has been removed for further examination.
Among other studies, NTSB is conducting a meteorological study because of fog.
"Nothing has been ruled out," he says.
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This is a developing story. More information as it becomes available.
