Pilot seriously injured in small plane crash near San Jose's Reid-Hillview Airport

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A small plane crashes in San Jose severely injuring the pilot. July 22, 2022.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - An airplane pilot of a small aircraft suffered serious injuries during a crash in San Jose Friday evening, officials say. 

San Jose Police Department officers responded to the scene at Ocala Avenue and Karl Street near Reid-Hillview County Airport. 

Small plane crash in San Jose. July 22, 2022. 

Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration said in a preliminary statement that a single-engine Piper PA-32 crashed while departing from the airport around 7:30 p.m. 

Police said the male pilot was taken to a local hospital. No other injuries were reported. FAA did not identify the pilot.

Officials are reporting downed power lines on the 2100 block of Evelyn Avenue and are alerting nearby residents. The public is asked to avoid the area while crews respond to secure the downed power lines. 

In an update, San Jose Fire Department said no evacuations were issued, but that area residents were asked to shelter-in-place due to the downed power lines. 

Pacific Gas and Electric crews are at the scene. At around 8:45 p.m. officials estimated it would take two hours to get the electrical hazard under control. As of 10 p.m., police said power was still out for many homes.

A Twitter user posted a photo of what appears to be the small plane looking mostly intact, but against a fence. A better look from photos shared by the fire department  showed more significant damage to the front of the plane.

"It sounded like a car accident-boom…louder than that," said Thang Truong, a San Jose resident. 

The plane sheared a power pole, which led to the downed lines. It narrowly missed the Diaz family home on Evelyn Ave. 

"It's kind of scary having that airport right next to my parents' house is nerve racking. It's scary.  What if it [fell] inside the house? It's something you don't want to think about," Jose Diaz said. 

Another man said he was home when the plane crashed. 

"All of a sudden power went out in my room. I heard something just drop.  No scrapes or nothing. I thought it was a car crashing nearby into a generator. I went to go outside and I checked.  It was a plane. It was pretty shocking. People were rushing over to see what happened to see if everything was OK," said Carlos Hernandez.

Roads in the surrounding area will be closed while National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA investigate. There is no estimate time of reopening those roads, police said. 

Officials have not said what may have caused the accident. 

A small plane crashes in San Jose severely injuring the pilot. July 22, 2022.