Plane crashes into traffic westbound of Herndon, no injuries reported

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The FAA is investigating after a small plane crashed in northwest Fresno on Saturday.

The single-engine aircraft was seen upside down in the westbound lanes of Herndon Avenue.

Fresno Police say they received 911 calls about the incident just before 10 a.m.

The pilot told officers he started having engine trouble shortly after taking off from Sierra Sky Park Airport.

He turned around and had to land with the wind, which increased his speed and pushed the plane off the runway.

He plowed through a fence and hit the median, causing the aircraft to flip over.

Fortunately, no one was hurt.

"This could have been much, much worse if there was more traffic on Herndon like there normally is, but luckily it worked out that there was no vehicular traffic and no pedestrians using the walkway that lines the perimeter so no one was injured, and we're very thankful for that," said Fresno Police Lt. Jennifer Horsford.

Westbound traffic was shut down temporarily, but has since reopened.

The pilot was the only person in the plane at the time of the crash.