SKY FOREST - (INT) – It’ll be up to the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of Wednesday’s crash landing of a light plane in the parking lot of Santa’s Village.

The pilot and three passengers exited the plane before first responders arrived. Two of those on board suffered minor injuries. Authorities did not identify the individuals.

There was no fire, but the single-engine Mooney M20E sustained major damage.

In a later news release, the pilot and occupants of the aircraft told the sheriff's department that the plane experienced some severe downward drafts shortly after take-off from the San Bernardino International Airport. Unable to gain the proper altitude to return to the airport safely, the pilot made the decision to perform an emergency landing in the parking lot.

The pilot's intended destination was Big Bear.

The FAA registry lists the plane’s owner as Tangobravo Consulting LLC, of Redlands.

Story Date: January 23, 2018