For Crestknoll Drive neighbors, the home of Roy Anderson and Dahlia Leber was a special place, a frequent gathering spot for family and visitors.
"Roy and Dahlia were the best neighbors ever," said Laurie Elenbaas who lives directly across the street.
Sunday, four other family members had joined them for a Super Bowl viewing party when a twin engine Cessna fell from the sky, disintegrating as it plummeted toward the Yorba Linda neighborhood, massive debris crashing into the Anderson home and setting it ablaze.
Elenbaas and other neighbors ran outside.
"Their house was an inferno," Elenbaas said. "It was such a helpless feeling."
Of the six inside, only two survived. The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner has yet to make positive identification of the deceased.
Anderson had operated his own company before his retirement, Elenbaas said. She recalled her father would often visit.
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"They'd have people over, and my dad would go visit with Roy on the front porch, and Dahlia would bring him his glass of wine and just lovely, lovely people."
The pilot who died was identified Monday by authorities as Antonio Pastini, 75 of Gardnerville, NV. The Sheriff-Coroner's office initially described him as a retired Chicago police officer, but later said that was based on apparent credentials determined not to be bona fide.
Pastini was a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight, which flies medical assistance missions, the organization confirmed.
