Plane crashes in ag field in Paso Robles

On Tuesday night, March 6 at around 8:30 pm, the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services responded to an Alert 3, Category 1 Aircraft Incident near the Paso Robles Airport. Arriving resources found an upright aircraft in an agriculture field just south of Dry Creek Road. The single-engine Piper aircraft took off from the Paso Robles Airport with 2 people on board after a brief layover from the Bay Area. The student pilot and his instructor had engine failure in their plane prior to reaching full altitude. The instructor immediately took over the controls in an attempt to return and land at the airport safely. The pilot maneuvered the gliding aircraft from homes, power lines, and traffic falling short in his attempt to reach the airport. Neither occupant sustained injuries. The aircraft sustained moderate damage without the release of any contaminants into the environment. The FAA and NTSB were contacted from the scene. Additional assistance was also provided by CAL FIRE, the Paso Robles Police Department, and the Paso Robles Airport Manager. The cause of the engine failure in the plane is unknown.