A father-daughter duo lost their lives when their small aircraft crashed into a building near Fullerton Municipal Airport, leaving a community in mourning.

A tragic plane crash near Fullerton Municipal Airport on Thursday claimed the lives of Pascal Reid, a Huntington Beach pilot, and his teenage daughter, Kelly Reid. The pair were aboard a Vans RV-10 aircraft when it struck a furniture factory building during an attempted emergency landing, according to federal aviation officials.

Kelly, a student at Huntington Beach High School, was remembered for her compassion and dedication by her school’s Girls’ Soccer Team, which posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook. “Kelly was a natural caregiver and always put others first. She will be deeply missed. Her father was at every single game, always so proud of his daughter,” the post read.

Pascal Reid, who owned the plane, was described by friends as a responsible and experienced pilot. Tim Olson, a fellow aviation enthusiast, recalled Reid as “diligent” and someone who frequently shared his love of flying. “It’s real sad to hear that it ended this way for him,” Olson said. “I know from talking back and forth that he did travel, camped out with his plane around the country a bunch.”

The crash occurred shortly after the RV-10, a homebuilt single-engine plane, took off. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicate that Reid attempted to return to the airport for an emergency landing but fell short of the runway. Preliminary reports show that Reid radioed the tower about the emergency 90 seconds into the flight but did not specify the issue.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane struggle before the crash. Video footage showed the aircraft banking left before striking the building’s roof, sparking a massive fireball. “We thought it was going to hit us,” said Daniel Villalvazo, who was nearby at the time.

The crash caused significant destruction at Michael Nicholas Designs, where 19 employees were injured, with 11 hospitalized, including several with burns. Over 100 workers were evacuated as firefighters battled the blaze. The factory was red-tagged, pending structural evaluation and the removal of the wreckage.

A private vigil for Pascal and Kelly Reid was held Friday at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach. Friends and classmates honored Kelly’s vibrant personality and hard work. “She was as joyous as one can be,” said Maia Dadakis, a close friend and classmate. “I think what I want to carry on from her is that hard work and passion she had for every little thing she did.”

Authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA, continue to investigate the cause of the crash, which occurred under “unknown circumstances.”

Supporters of a new initiative aimed at making it more challenging to privatize operations of Huntington Beach public libraries submitted over 17,000 signatures on Monday, November 25th. This move comes in reaction to a city proposal that was initially considered but ultimately abandoned, which sought to contract out library management to save approximately $1 million annually.

This petition marks the second effort concerning the city libraries that has reached the stage of collecting signatures, with results set to be reviewed by the City Council. An earlier petition delivered in October calls for overturning a law that would enable the establishment of a children’s book review board however, this board has not yet been instituted.

Supported by Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library, the latest petition seeks to enact a law mandating that any decision to privatize public library management or ownership requires majority approval from both the City Council and the city’s voters.

The initial city directive for staff to seek proposals from potential contractors met significant community resistance. The plans were shelved after Library Systems & Services, a company based in Maryland, withdrew its interest.

As of Monday, the City Clerk’s Office verified that 17,773 signatures were collected for the initiative regarding library privatization. The OC Registrar of Voters will now authenticate these signatures, as shared by City Clerk Robin Estanislau. The initiative requires backing from 10% of Huntington Beach’s registered voters to proceed.

The registrar’s office is tasked with verifying signatures by December 12th for the first petition and January 13th for the second. During the December 17th City Council meeting, options for handling the first petition will be discussed, and these could include adopting it directly, requesting a detailed report, or putting it on the ballot for the next general election in November 2026.

However, Estanislau noted that it’s too late to include these petitions in a special election scheduled for March 4th, which seeks to replace Sen. Janet Nguyen, pending official results of her election to the OC Board of Supervisors.

The city has requested comprehensive verification of all signatures to address any electoral process concerns.

Carol Daus, one of the petition’s backers, expressed her belief that the newly elected conservative City Council might bring this privatization issue to voters in the 2026 elections, though it remains to be seen how they will move forward.

California’s attempt to block local voter ID measure fails as Huntington Beach defends voter integrity.

A California judge has dismissed the state’s lawsuit against Huntington Beach, allowing the city’s voter ID measure to stand in a significant victory for local governance and election integrity. The ruling, issued Friday by Orange County Superior Court Judge Nico Dourbetas, found no conflict between the measure and existing state law. This paves the way for the Republican-leaning city to implement one of the state’s few voter ID requirements for local elections.

City Attorney Michael Gates, a staunch defender of the measure, celebrated the decision. “It’s a massive black eye to the state of California,” Gates remarked. “What the state of California needs to know, if they haven’t found out already, is Huntington Beach is not going to be intimidated or deterred.”

The measure, approved by Huntington Beach voters in March, permits city officials to require identification at the polls starting in 2026. It also includes provisions to expand in-person voting locations and bolster oversight of ballot drop boxes. Critics, including Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta, have argued that the policy is a barrier to voting, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Bonta’s office issued a statement downplaying the ruling, claiming it “does not address the merits of the case” and reaffirming the state’s commitment to challenging the policy. “We continue to believe that Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy clearly conflicts with state law, and will respond appropriately in court,” the statement read.

In response to the measure, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law in September banning local voter ID policies. However, that law won’t take effect until next year, leaving Huntington Beach’s voter-approved initiative unimpeded for now. Gates contends that the state constitution grants cities like Huntington Beach the authority to enact such measures, stating his commitment to upholding the will of the voters.

The city’s charter status has historically enabled it to push back against state mandates. Known for its conservative leadership, the Huntington Beach City Council has frequently clashed with Sacramento over policies ranging from housing to immigration. The council’s majority-Republican members have consistently prioritized local control, with the voter ID measure being their latest endeavor.

Despite Huntington Beach’s majority GOP voter base, the state’s lawsuit argued that requiring ID could disenfranchise low-income and minority voters. However, supporters of the measure view it as a safeguard against potential election irregularities, highlighting the importance of voter confidence in local elections.

As the state considers its next steps, questions remain about how the measure will be implemented. Huntington Beach could choose to run local elections independently or continue to rely on the county registrar, who has yet to comment on the ruling.

For now, Huntington Beach stands firm in its fight to maintain voter integrity, solidifying its reputation as a city willing to challenge California’s political establishment.