This story is breaking news and will be updated.
UPDATE (Nov. 18, 2021) — The Kern County Coroner’s Office identified the pilot of the aircraft as Max Allen Hanner, 62, of Bakersfield.
SHAFTER, Calif. (KGET) — The pilot of the plane that went down in a fiery crash just northwest of Minter Field Airport was confirmed dead today by Kern County Fire Department officials.
At 11:50 a.m., a crop dusting aircraft took off from Shafter Airport headed northwest to New Cuyama, Calif., and crashed about a quarter mile from the Shafter Airport, according to Jonathan Hudson, general manager of Shafter Airport District
The weather conditions at the time were partly cloudy and light fog, said Hudson.
The aircraft belonged to Inland Aviation, a local crop dusting company based at Shafter Airport, according to Hudson.
KCFD official said they found a small aircraft down and there was a possibility that an organic type of seed was on board.
Kern County Fire Department (KCFD), Kern County SO, Shafter PD, Environmental Health and an ambulance all responded to the scene, according to officials. The fire was extinguished and the pilot was the only passenger on board. HAZMAT also responded but they did not find any hazardous materials on scene.
The crash was reported on North Driver Road and East Lerdo Highway near Minter Field Airport.
The National Transportation and Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified.
KCSO will remain on scene.
At 11:55 a.m., there were reports of an aircraft crash on Fresno Avenue and Cherry Avenue, according to PulsePoint.
County Fire Department and Shafter Police are responding.
