[UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: More Photos/info from SCVFD] BREAKING NEWS: Plane Crash on Usal Road in Northern Mendocino

Emergency personnel are responding to the report of a plane crash in the northwestern corner of Mendocino County around 1:30 p.m. on March 8.

Scanner traffic indicates a report has been made of a plane crash with a possible explosion in the 76000 block of Usal Road, north of Whale Gulch School. Even though this is in Mendocino County, the quickest access is through Humboldt County. As such, an all-call has been issued for multiple Southern Humboldt agencies including Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue. Additionally, City Ambulance and Reach air services have been requested to what is being dubbed as the Whale Incident.

Emergency dispatch has relayed that a Usal resident is reporting that the plane crash occurred on her driveway. A neighbor, according to the resident, witnessed parachutes being deployed. Subsequent transmission indicates occupants are stuck in trees via the [plane’s] parachute. At this time, the total number of occupants, and injuries, if any, are unknown.

First responders and emergency vehicles are en route. Please use caution if in the area.

Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.

Update 2:05 p.m.: Scanner transmission indicates residents have spotted two occupants suspended [in the plane about] 20 meters above the ground, hanging from a tree canopy.

Update 2:19 p.m.: The three ejected occupants of the downed plane are reported to be out of the tree with no injuries, according to scanner traffic. The involved parties have been contacted by Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department personnel.

Emergency personnel have yet to reach the crash debris field, per radio transmission.

Update 2:29 p.m.: The three occupants have been described as two adults and a juvenile. They are reported to be uninjured except for some minor scratches.

HCSO personnel are now at the crash site.

Update 2:38 p.m.: Two sources are now reporting that the juvenile who safely ejected from the plane was approximately 5 years old.

Additionally, a nearby resident was able to capture these images of the aircraft prior to the crash.

[Photos by Kristina Carrara]

Update 2:46 p.m.: According to scanner traffic, the FAA has been in contact with local officials, stating that logs indicate two adults, and two children were believed to be onboard the aircraft.

Update 2:59 p.m.: Redheaded Blackbelt has obtained flight information from FlightRadar24.com. The plane, a 2004 Cirrus SR22, departed Shelter Cove airport at approximately 1:15 p.m. The crash appears to have occurred south of Shelter Cove, on Usal Road, approximately five minutes later. The flight radar image below is prior to the last flight radar path that shows the plane dropping off the radar before Yellow Road.

UPDATE 5:02 p.m.: Plane crash photo from Shelter Cove Fire Department.

The plane landed upside down near Whale Gulch. [Photos provided by Shelter Cove Fire Department]

The parachute hanging from the tree above the plane.

UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: Shelter Cove Fire Department’s spokesperson Cheryl Antony confirmed that two adults and one child were on board. There is no missing child that the FAA were concerned about.

UPDATE: The downed aircraft, a Cirrus SR-22, was equipped with the first and only aviation parachute system approved by the FAA. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) has saved over 200 lives since it’s inception.

UPDATE: Miraculous Survival (With Innovative Parachute): Plane Crash in Northern Mendocino CO Leaves Man, Woman, & Child With Only Minor Injuries