Woman Survives Airplane Landing on Top of Her While She Walked Her Dog

A peaceful evening walk turned into a nightmare when a small plane crash-landed on a Long Beach soccer field and struck a deaf woman out walking her dog.

The victim, 42-year-old Tiffany Harrison, miraculously survived the October 21 crash, though her family says she’s now facing a long recovery.

“She’s lucky to be alive,” Harrison’s sister, Brittany McFall, told ABC7 Eyewitness News. “When we got the call that she’d been hit by a plane, we thought it had to be a mistake. Who expects something like that?”

A “freak accident” that defied belief

According to the Long Beach Fire Department, the two-seater aircraft went down just after 1 p.m. at Heartwell Park, a popular recreation area surrounded by homes and soccer fields. Officials said the plane “landed on its belly” after its landing gear collapsed.

The pilot — described as an elderly man — was rescued from the wreckage and taken to a nearby hospital. Both he and Harrison were listed in stable condition.

Witnesses told local reporters the plane appeared to be in distress moments before the crash, descending rapidly before skidding across the grass. “It sounded like a car backfiring — then boom,” said one parkgoer who ran to help.

“Her spine is broken in multiple spots”

Harrison’s sister said the Long Beach woman didn’t hear the aircraft coming because she was born deaf. She was walking her dog when the plane struck her from behind.

“She’s had several surgeries already,” McFall explained. “Her pelvis is broken. Her spine is broken in multiple spots. They had to clean out a serious leg wound and give her blood transfusions. It’s a miracle she’s alive.”

The family says Tiffany’s loyal dog somehow escaped injury. “That’s the one blessing,” McFall added. “Her dog’s fine. It’s like he knew to run.”

The long road to recovery

McFall said her sister is alert but traumatized. “This is very traumatic for her,” she said. “She’s probably going to have PTSD. A normal person wouldn’t just walk in the park and expect an airplane to fall out of the sky.”

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest mechanical failure may have played a role, though officials haven’t released further details.

Heartwell Park reopened the next day, but the surreal scene — a crumpled plane beside a mangled fence and police tape — left residents shaken.

“This could have been so much worse,” said local resident Dana Reyes. “There are always kids playing soccer there. The fact that Tiffany and the pilot survived — that’s something close to a miracle.”