Two men, pet dog, die in California plane crash, had Swansea and Rhode Island ties

A fatal plane crash over the weekend involved two men with local ties.

According to Simi Valley Police, at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, a single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft crashed in the Wood Ranch neighborhood of Simi Valley, impacting two single-family homes and sparking structure fires. Firefighters from the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) responded swiftly, extinguished the flames, and secured the scene for investigators.

Tragically, both occupants of the aircraft — the pilot and one passenger — were killed in the crash. A dog onboard the aircraft also perished. No injuries were reported on the ground.

The aircraft has been confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as a VANS RV-10, a four-seat, single-engine plane. The flight originated from Lancaster, CA and was enroute to Camarillo, CA under instrument flight rules (IFR).

Swansea Country Club revealed in a social media post that the deceased had local ties.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the loss of Matthew Berkovitz, the son of our beloved colleague, friend, and family member Cheryl Ferreira and her husband Mike Devane.

“We are devastated by the loss of Matt, who was not only a friend with a quick smile and a willingness to always help but was instrumental in helping enhance Swansea Country Club through his work on the new patio, refinished bar, and the golf operations building.

“While your first instinct may be to reach out to Cheryl and Mike, we kindly ask that you respect their privacy during this unimaginably difficult time.

“Below is the official statement from the Berkovitz family, which we are sharing in full, as requested:

“Our family is heartbroken to confirm the loss of our beloved family members, Paul Berkovitz, his son Matthew Berkovitz (36 years old), and Paul’s dog Brody in the tragic plane crash on Saturday, May 3 in Simi Valley, CA. We want to express our sincere thank you to the Ventura County Fire Department, the Simi Valley Police Department, and all first responders for their swift and heroic efforts at the scene.

“Paul was a devoted father and husband, a passionate pilot, and a lifelong animal lover. Brody, his loyal companion, was by his side on many of his flights. Matt shared in his father’s passion for aviation, and the time they spent flying together brought them both great joy.

“As we mourn the tremendous loss, we ask, respectfully, that the media and public will allow our family to grieve privately. We are awaiting the results of the NTSB investigation that is underway to determine the cause of the tragedy. Our family will not be giving interviews or making further public statements now or in the future.”

Cheryl Ferreira & The Berkovitz Family