October 01, Corona, Calif. / Piper Saratoga

At about 1541 Pacific time, a Piper PA-32R-301T crashed near Corona Municipal Airport after the pilot declared an in-flight fire emergency shortly after takeoff. The pilot and passenger were killed. After departing Corona on an IFR flight plan in visual conditions, the pilot contacted SoCal Tracon while climbing through 1,300 feet. He then declared an emergency, saying he thought he had a fire. Another pilot who was practicing IFR approaches at a nearby airport witnessed the accident airplane trailing black smoke but could not determine the origin of the smoke. The airborne witness reported that the accident airplane was in level flight before turning to the left and making one spiral turn prior to impact.