Flight Instructor Danna Eady and Two Sons Killed in California Plane Crash

A family trip to an airshow ended in tragedy in California, leaving a community mourning a flight instructor who had devoted much of her life to aviation. In the days that followed, the details of the crash gave way to something more personal: the story of the family and the woman so many remembered as an important presence in their lives.

The crash happened shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday, September 5, near Sierra Sky Park Airport in northwest Fresno, close to the San Joaquin River.

According to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, deputies, Fresno firefighters and Fresno police officers responded at about 1:50 p.m. to reports of a plane crash on the 7300 block of N. Blythe Avenue.

A Saturday Afternoon Flight Ends in Tragedy

First responders arrived to find a fixed-wing, single-engine airplane on fire atop the bluff of the San Joaquin River. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes, according to the sheriff's office.

There were four people aboard the aircraft. One female and one male adult were transported to the hospital, while two children were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators Are Still Trying to Determine What Happened

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear. The New York Post reported that the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were both involved, with the NTSB taking the lead in determining what went wrong.

The sheriff's office established a secured perimeter around the wreckage to give investigators room to work and prevent members of the public from interfering with the investigation.

According to a September 7, 2026 update from the sheriff's office, the NTSB remained in charge of the ongoing investigation as authorities worked to piece together the circumstances that brought the aircraft down.

The airport itself has also drawn attention because of its location and runway. According to ABC7, Sierra Sky Park Airport has a runway just over 2,400 feet long, making it one of the shortest in the San Joaquin Valley.

Because the airport is privately owned, ABC7 reported that it is not required to conform to FAA safety requirements for runway overruns. The airport is also situated between two residential neighborhoods and borders the San Joaquin River.

Still, authorities have urged people not to speculate about the cause of the crash while the investigation continues.

While investigators work to establish what happened in those final moments, the identities of those aboard began to bring the tragedy into sharper focus.

The Family Aboard the Aircraft

The woman was later identified as Danna Eady, 41, of Auberry. Her husband, Craig Eady, 44, was the other adult aboard the plane. Danna was flying with her husband and their two youngest sons, Pavel, 10, and Remus, 13, according to the Post.

The family was reportedly traveling to an airshow when the aircraft crashed. Pavel and Remus died at the scene, while Danna and Craig were initially taken to the hospital in critical condition. Danna later died from her injuries. Craig initially survived the crash but suffered severe burns and extensive injuries. His condition remained critical as the family waited for updates.

Then, on Monday, September 7, another devastating update arrived. The Post reported that Craig had died at the hospital from his injuries, just two days after the crash. The deaths left the couple's two eldest children, Lucien, 17, and Felicity, 18, orphaned. Unlike their younger brothers and parents, however, Lucien and Felicity were not aboard the aircraft.

The Family Is Now Facing an Unimaginable Loss

A Support Now campaign established for the Eady family describes what happened as "an unimaginable loss." The page says Danna and her two young sons lost their lives in the plane accident, while Craig initially survived and faced a long and difficult road of recovery requiring extensive medical care and support.

After Craig's death, that recovery was no longer possible, but the family's need for support remained. The campaign says the family is navigating grief while also dealing with the financial and practical consequences of the tragedy.

Donations are intended to help cover medical care and recovery-related expenses, travel and other costs associated with treatment, household needs, and the unexpected expenses that can follow such a devastating loss.

The campaign also emphasizes that support does not have to be financial. Friends and family say that sharing the campaign, offering prayers, or simply helping the family's story reach others can also be a meaningful way to show support.

"The Eadys have lost so much. Let's come together as a community and help carry them through what comes next," the campaign says.

Long before the tragedy, Danna had established herself as a flight instructor, aviation entrepreneur, and community advocate.

Those Who Knew Danna Remember Much More than the Crash

According to Danna's LinkedIn profile, she worked as a flight instructor at Reedley College and was the founder and owner of Meraki Aviation, a company providing aircraft rentals and flight instruction.

She also served as vice president of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 376, where she helped organize fly-ins and fundraisers and co-directed a youth-led Van’s RV-12 aircraft-building program.

Her community work extended beyond aviation. She said she had supported at-risk youth through educational outreach, tutoring, and life-skills development and created aviation curriculum for local schools. She also volunteered as a Young Eagles Rally pilot and Angel Flight pilot, providing discovery flights and charitable air transportation for patients in need.

Reedley College remembered Danna as an instructor and mentor whose influence was especially significant for young women pursuing aviation.

"Danna was an incredible instructor and a mentor to all of our flight science students, especially to the five young women who are currently in our program and consider her to be a role model and inspiration to fulfill their dreams of becoming pilots," a Reedley College spokesperson said. "Danna was a valued member of our Flight."

The college also confirmed that Danna was not aboard one of its aircraft when the crash occurred and that no Reedley College students were involved.

The Garrisons, who own AITS Flight School and live at Sierra Sky Park, said they were devastated by her death. "We were privileged to work alongside Danna… She represented the very best of our aviation community and will be deeply missed," the Garrisons said in part in a statement.

"Danna was a pillar of the Central Valley aviation community. As president of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 376 at Sierra Sky Park Airport and a certified flight instructor at a local college, she dedicated herself to aviation education, mentorship, and creating opportunities for the next generation of aviators."

For Nick Wilcox, owner of Soar Paso flight school in Paso Robles, Danna was both a friend and fellow flight instructor. He told the New York Post that he had flown with Danna numerous times and that she had even taken his daughter flying.

"She was a very special soul," Wilcox said. Wilcox also remembered Danna as "bubbly, outgoing, a free spirit" who loved being barefoot, eating ice cream, traveling and having new experiences.

Danna's aviation journey was especially striking because she had only become a pilot in recent years, according to Wilcox. Despite that, he said, she quickly accumulated thousands of flight hours and earned numerous ratings.

Flying, he explained, was not simply another part of Danna's career. "Her dream was to fly," Wilcox said. And then came the words that perhaps best captured what aviation meant to her.

"She died doing what she absolutely loved."

As investigators continue working to determine what happened that Saturday afternoon, the people who knew Danna are left remembering the life behind the headlines: an instructor, mentor, entrepreneur, pilot, and mother whose passion for aviation had become an important part of the community around her.

Our thoughts are with Lucien and Felicity, the Eady family, and everyone who knew and loved Danna, Craig, Pavel, and Remus as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.