Pilot Killed

Ross K. Anderson of Rancho Palos Verdes (CA) spent years building his Harmon Rocket II. He finished it last year and registered it with the FAA, then flew it to his office in Chino almost every day. Wednesday, he flew it to his death.

"It was his project and he was really proud of it. Every rivet was a piece of art," said his friend, Frank Lyon.

Anderson was reportedly the only person on board the aircraft when it crashed into two houses in Seal Beach (CA). Residents Sharon and Donn Loe were in one of the homes when the aircraft crashed and exploded.

"I just heard like a crash noise, a bomb," 67-year old Sharon Loe told KCAL-TV after leaving the hospital. She had a minor cut and her hair was singed. "And when I looked up, saw this fire bomb or ball coming at me and I thought to myself get out of here. I thought I was on fire."

Donn Loe wasn't hurt.

The aircraft had taken off from Torrance on its way to Chino at about 0800 local. Fifteen minutes later, ATC lost contact with Anderson. Not long after that, the aircraft went down in the Orange County neighborhood.

"He typically would fly his airplane to work because it beats all the freeway traffic," Lyon said. "He was such a careful person, and he wouldn't fly if there was any expected unsafe conditions. So I just don't know what could have happened."

Anderson held an ATP rating, according to local news reports. He was a former Navy pilot who has worked at several different companies in Southern California in recent years.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov