The two people killed when their plane crashed into the roof of a Fullerton warehouse were identified Friday as a Huntington Beach pilot and his teenage daughter.
High school student Kelly Reed, 16, and her father, Pascal Reed, were killed in the crash, according to an announcement posted on social media by Huntington Beach High School’s girls soccer and flag football teams.
Kelly is a senior at Huntington Beach High School where he played varsity soccer, lacrosse, and flag football.
Kelly Reed, 16, of Huntington Beach High School, is seen in uniform as a player on the girls’ flag football team. (Huntington Beach High School Girls Flag Football) Teammates and loved ones honored Huntington Beach High School varsity soccer player Kelly Reed on January 3, 2024. Thursday afternoon, Jan. 2, 2025, after a plane crashed into a warehouse in Fullerton. (KTLA) A video posted to the Citizen app shows smoke billowing from the scene of a plane crash in Fullerton on January 2, 2025. (Citizen App) This image taken from video shows a small plane about to crash into a commercial building in Fullerton, California, on Thursday, January 2nd. 2025. (RUCCI FORGED via AP) This image taken from video shows a small plane crashing into a commercial building in Fullerton, California, causing an explosion and fire on Thursday, January 2nd. 2025. (RUCCI FORGED via AP) First responders treat an unspecified number of injured people after a plane crashes into a warehouse in Fullerton Thursday afternoon, Jan. 2, 2025. (KTLA) Firefighters respond to a commercial building where a small plane crashed Thursday. Fullerton, Calif., Jan. 2, 2025 (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) A plane crash scene where a woman is carried away on a nearby stretcher, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, Fullerton, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) 2025 People stand outside the building where the plane crash occurred on Thursday, January 2, in Fullerton, California. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) Firefighters work at the scene of a plane crash Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Fullerton, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) Firefighters tend to people after a crash through the roof of a building near the Fullerton Airport (Jeff Gritchen for the Orange County Register/Orange County Register via AP) ) Workers stand near a police line at the scene of a small plane crash on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Fullerton, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung) Gong) A video posted to the Citizen app shows Smoke is seen rising from the scene of a plane crash in Fullerton on Monday. (Citizen App) Roof of furniture manufacturing facility where plane crashed on Thursday, January 2, 2024 (KTLA)
“Yesterday, our soccer family suffered an unimaginable loss,” the soccer team’s post read. “Kelly was a wonderful girl…genuine, kind and had a zest for life. Kelly was a caring person by nature and always put others first. She will be greatly missed. Her father was always proud of his daughter at every game. Our love and prayers go out to Tara and Rebecca Reed.”
On Thursday, Jan. 2, the girl and her father were aboard an RV-10 aircraft in a van that took off from Fullerton Municipal Airport. The aircraft is a single-engine, do-it-yourself kit model that seats up to four people.
Immediately after takeoff, Pascal, who was piloting the plane, tried to make an emergency landing at the airport, but the plane crashed into the roof of a furniture manufacturing warehouse in the 2300 block of West Ramer Avenue, about 1,000 feet from the runway.
The collision also caused a fire inside the building.
The accident killed Kelly and Pascal, injured 19 employees inside the Michael Nicholas Designs warehouse, and left several victims with burns.
Eleven people were taken to a local hospital for treatment, and eight others were treated and released at the scene.
“One of my colleagues’ hair was burnt off, his shirt was burnt off, and only a few pieces of cloth remained on his back,” said Edwin Cano, a warehouse employee.
Nearby buildings were evacuated for safety while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire inside. The warehouse was later red-tagged as the crash remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
On Friday, aviation authorities said they were working to determine the events that led to the fatal crash. Recordings between Pascal and air traffic control indicated that the plane had encountered an emergency that required an immediate return to the airport.
“The plane appeared to make a 180-degree left turn… but ultimately crashed approximately 1,000 feet short of the runway,” NTSB spokesman Elliott Simpson said at a news conference Thursday night.
The wreckage will be removed from the warehouse and then transported to a remote storage facility for further examination.
People attend a vigil for those killed in a small plane crash that took off from Fullerton Municipal Airport the previous day at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach, California, on Friday, January 3, 2025. (Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP) HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – JANUARY 3: A photo of a plane crash in Fullerton on Thursday at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach, California, on Friday, January 3, 2025. People attend a vigil in memory of the victims. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – JANUARY 3: Plane Victims Memorial Service on Friday, January 3, 2025 at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach, California People attending a crash in Fullerton on Thursday. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – JANUARY 3: Plane Victims Memorial Service on Friday, January 3, 2025 at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach, California People attending a crash in Fullerton on Thursday. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) Kelly Reed, a 16-year-old student at Huntington Beach High School, is seen in uniform as a player on the girls flag football team. (Huntington Beach High School Girls Flag Football)
On Friday night, loved ones continued to mourn the loss of the father and daughter. The Huntington Beach High School flag football team honored Kelly in a social media post that read in part:
“Kelly was the most loving teammate and friend, and a truly wonderful person who touched the lives of so many people with his kindness and warmth. Kelly strived for nothing but success in everything he did. He was one of the most passionate athletes and played three sports. She was a leader on and off the field and not only mentored many, but also left a mark on everyone she touched. She will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Kelly. You will always be in our hearts.”
A wake for father and daughter was held Friday afternoon at Friends Christian Church in Huntington Beach.
Details of the investigation are expected to be announced within the next week.
