Witness to Pennsylvania Plane Crash, Brian Pipkin, Speaks Out

A small airplane carrying five people crashed in a fiery explosion near a Pennsylvania retirement community on March 9, 2025. Despite the dramatic impact, all passengers survived, officials confirmed.

Meanwhile, witnesses saw the aircraft struggling before it crashed. Brian Pipkin, a witness to the crash, was driving nearby when he noticed the aircraft climbing before it suddenly veered left. “And then it went down nose first,” he said. “There was an immediate fireball.”

Pipkin immediately called 911 before driving to the crash site. When he arrived, he captured video footage of thick black smoke rising from the wreckage.

The crash had set multiple cars on fire in the parking lot, and the plane’s mangled remains were engulfed in flames. The aircraft had narrowly missed colliding with a three-story building within the retirement community.

Emergency responders arrived quickly, with a fire truck from the airport reaching the scene within minutes. Despite their rapid response, the fire was difficult to contain.

“It was so smoky and it was so hot,” Pipkin shared. “They were really struggling to get the fire out.”

Pipkin told CNN that the aircraft was already at a significant altitude when it suddenly banked left and nose-dived while continuing to turn.

At the crash site, the cockpit was fully engulfed in flames. Pipkin described the intense heat, comparing it to “opening an oven set to 500 degrees when you open the door and it hits your face.”

Still, he moved closer, hoping no explosions would follow. “I was getting closer, praying to God that nothing would blow up,” he said.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to review flight records, mechanical conditions, and other possible contributing factors.

As they piece together what led to the accident, newly released air traffic control audio reveals the pilot’s distress call moments before the plane went down.

Emergency crews responded on Sunday, March 9, after an aircraft went down at 3:18 p.m. in the parking lot of Brethren Village, a retirement community in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Fire Chief Scott Little, alongside several officials, provided details on the crash and the number of people affected.

“The five passengers were the only individuals to sustain injuries and were transported for medical treatment. No individuals on the ground were injured. Additionally, there were no deaths,” officials stated in a press release shared on Facebook.

Newly released air traffic control audio revealed that the pilot reported an open door and requested permission to land. However, communication appeared to be a struggle. The pilot said, “Lancaster Tower, I cannot hear you with the wind, so we’re going to return to 26. We’re going to downwind.”

The air traffic controller later announced that the pilot was “clear to land” on runway 26. However, shortly after, the situation took a turn for the worse. The air traffic controller was then heard urgently saying, “Pull up. Rescue 1, Lancaster Tower. The aircraft is down just behind the terminal in the parking lot tree area.”

Emergency crews quickly arrived, extinguishing the flames and securing the area. Authorities confirmed that while no buildings were structurally damaged, several cars were affected

Lancaster County’s Department of Public Safety assisted at the scene as officials transitioned into the Recovery and Investigation Phase. “The crash site remains secure while federal agencies conduct their investigation,” the officials noted.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on X that the State Police were helping local first responders at the plane crash site near Lancaster Airport. “All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available,” he added.

The Lancaster plane crash is the most recent in Pennsylvania. Back in January, a similar crash occurred in Northeast Philadelphia.

A doorbell camera in the area captured the terrifying moment a medical plane crashed onto a busy street, killing seven people, including a driver. The widely shared footage shows the impact and explosion as bystanders react in shock.

They turn toward the sky just as an aircraft appears, plummeting rapidly before crashing nearby. The explosion briefly flashes white across the screen, followed by a thunderous blast. The witnesses rush inside for safety.

The chilling footage sparked widespread discussion, with many describing it as surreal and deeply unsettling. “So scary. It’s like a scene out of a movie. I can’t believe this happened. Praying for everyone,” one user said.

Another shared, “I know it was a plane, but it doesn’t look like it. I’m sure it was the cloud coverage, but he way it appears out of nowhere and spikes into the ground. It seems like it’s moving way faster than a small plane can.[sic]” Another exclaimed, “Can imagine that being the scariest thing ever!!!”

Many online viewers speculated about the crash, with some believing the plane was already on fire before impact. Others noted that a witness in the footage appeared to react to an unusual sound just before the aircraft went down.

Some described the video as one of the most horrifying they had ever seen, expressing concern for traumatized residents. Another expressed sympathy for the victims, especially after learning that a child was among those on board.

Meanwhile, some questioned the aircraft’s speed and trajectory, suggesting it was moving too fast for a typical small plane.

As reported by AP, authorities confirmed that the Learjet 55 was carrying six passengers from Mexico, including a child who had spent months receiving medical treatment. The plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport but crashed just miles away.

The impact set off a massive fireball that damaged multiple vehicles and homes and shook the neighborhood. A person in a car was also killed, bringing the total death toll to seven.

The crash occurred just after 6 p.m. on Friday, less than three miles from the airport. Selkuc Koc, a waiter at a nearby diner, recalled hearing a loud boom and initially thinking it was a “thunderstorm.”

When he looked outside, he saw thick smoke and flames rising into the air, comparing the scene to a gas station explosion.

The force of the blast was so strong that debris flew into nearby buildings. A diner customer was injured when a heavy metal object crashed through a window, adding to the chaos.

By Saturday morning, February 1, officials reported 19 injuries in addition to the fatalities. Most victims had been treated and released, but authorities warned that the casualty count could still change.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said officials were still working to identify everyone who was on the streets when the crash happened, making it hard to confirm the final number of victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation, collecting debris and assessing damage across the four-to-six-block crash site. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described it as a “high-impact crash” that left the aircraft “highly fragmented.”

At the time, investigators were still searching for the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide key insights into what happened.

Given the force of the impact, officials feared it may be damaged or fragmented but remained hopeful it could be recovered and analyzed.

In addition to the mother and child reported by AP, Fox News identified the remaining people on board as the pilot, copilot, physician, and paramedic, all of whom were Mexican nationals.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri before crashing shortly after takeoff.

As investigators worked to determine the cause, an expert analyzed the footage and possible factors behind the accident.

“The plane was out of the crew’s control. It was not controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). May have been a mechanical malfunction of the stabilizer, elevator, trim or even a load shift rearward within the cabin,” said Retired Philadelphia pilot John Anderson.

Anderson suggested that if the aircraft carried a stretcher and it was not properly secured, it could have rolled backward, shifting the plane’s center of gravity. “This would cause the nose to raise and stall the wing. In that case, the nose will drop with the angle in the video,” he explained.

The former pilot also added, “Because it was right after takeoff and the initial climb, I would say it was likely aswing stall. There could be a number of factors that would cause a stall.

Could have been a runaway trim, malfunctioning stabilizer.” Authorities will continue to investigate as they gather more evidence and assess the damage.

After the crash, publicly released audio recordings revealed the final moments before the Learjet 55 went down, as reported on February 3.

In the few minutes before the incident, air traffic controllers were heard communicating with the aircraft, at one point asking the pilot “what frequency” they were on. Moments later, a chilling moan was captured in the recording, presumably from the cockpit. Officials did not confirm any details about the source of the sound.

Following a brief pause, an air traffic controller asked, “What’s going on down there?” Another dispatcher responded, “We have a lost aircraft,” adding, “We’re not exactly sure what happened, we’re trying to figure it out. For now, the field is going to be closed.”

As the chilling audio circulated online, reactions poured in, with many fixated on the eerie moan heard just moments before the Philadelphia crash.

One person was deeply unsettled, writing, “Someone can definitely be heard letting out a ‘moan’ in the released audio of the plane that crashed in Philadelphia very disturbing.”

One person confirmed hearing it too, “I heard the moan.” Another listener pointed out the timing, “Moaning sound not long after that.” The sound had a visceral effect on one user, who admitted, “The moan made my stomach turn and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What on earth happened on that plane?!”