Ronnie Metcalf Incident, Rio Linda, CA Fatality, West Sacramento individual passes away on Christmas Eve aircraft.

 Sacramento County authorities have recognized Ronnie Metcalf, a 70-year-old man residing in West Sacramento, as the victim who sadly passed away after a small aircraft mishap on Christmas Eve. This incident took place on December 24, 2025, when a 1966 fixed-wing single-engine plane, which had taken off from Rio Linda Airport, crashed in an expansive field situated west of Sacramento McClellan Airport.

The manager of McClellan Airport reported that there were two individuals on the aircraft at the moment of the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later verified that Metcalf, who was a passenger, was the one who lost his life due to his injuries. The pilot managed to survive the ordeal without any injuries.

Upon receiving the crash report, the Sacramento Fire Department promptly arrived at the accident scene. Firefighters discovered Metcalf trapped within the wreckage of the aircraft and immediately initiated attempts to rescue him. Given the crash's severity, fire crews needed to cut through the debris to extract the passenger. Initially, it was thought that Metcalf had died at the site, but after administering CPR, a pulse was detected. Nevertheless, it was subsequently confirmed that Metcalf succumbed to his injuries, although the precise time of death has yet to be disclosed.

After being freed from the wreck, emergency responders transported Metcalf to an ambulance, but regretfully, his injuries were too severe to survive. The FAA along with local officials are still probing into the cause of the crash. Although the reason for the plane's failure remains uncertain, investigators are diligently working to reconstruct the occurrences that led to this unfortunate event.

The local community has been deeply affected by the crash, as Metcalf was cherished by his friends and family for his kind and gentle nature. Tributes from relatives and the local aviation community have been shared, recalling him as an individual who held a profound love for flying.

As the inquiry progresses, officials are likely to release additional information regarding the crash and its contributing factors. In the meantime, the Metcalf family and those involved in the incident are mourning the loss of Ronnie Metcalf, whose life was tragically ended during what should have been a standard flight.