The crash killed two brothers and ignited the Canyon Fire in eastern Kern County.
RIDGECREST, CA — A Southern California flight instructor and father of three died May 7 when a small plane crashed in the El Paso Mountains south of Ridgecrest, killing two people and sparking a wildfire, authorities and relatives said.
Family members identified one of the victims as 28-year-old Ramzi Al-Shurman, an Anaheim father and newly graduated flight instructor. The second victim was identified in family fundraising posts as his brother, Temo. The crash brought together aviation investigators, federal land officials, fire crews and search teams after flames spread across dry public land in eastern Kern County.
The Bureau of Land Management said it received reports of a commercial aircraft crash about 12:15 p.m. May 7 on BLM-managed land in the Ridgecrest Field Office. Officials said the crash caused a fire and left two people dead. Search and rescue teams and BLM rangers went to the scene, while partner agencies helped secure the area and support the investigation. Family members said Ramzi Al-Shurman had recently completed flight instructor training and was days away from starting a job as a private pilot.
The aircraft was identified in aviation records as a Cessna 182T Skylane, a single-engine plane. The plane was destroyed after it crashed into mountainous terrain and burned after impact. Investigators had not released a cause of the crash by Tuesday, and no final findings had been announced. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating a Cessna 182 crash in Ridgecrest. The Federal Aviation Administration also typically assists with civil aircraft crash investigations, while the NTSB determines probable cause.
The crash site became the reported origin of the Canyon Fire, which spread quickly near Armistead, southwest of Ridgecrest. CAL FIRE listed the incident as beginning May 7 in Kern County. The fire grew from 100 acres at 4:02 p.m. to 800 acres minutes later, then to 2,000 acres by early evening. By May 8, officials reported 2,278 acres burned. Firefighters worked in rough terrain, where crews had difficulty reaching parts of the fire line. Air tankers and helicopters were used as crews built and improved control lines.
Containment rose over the next several days. CAL FIRE reported 20% containment early May 8, 50% by that evening, 70% on May 9 and 85% later the same day. The agency reported the fire was 98% contained by the evening of May 10. No homes or major structures were listed as destroyed in the early public updates, but the fire burned through more than 2,200 acres of desert and mountain land before crews nearly surrounded it.
Family fundraising pages described the deaths as a sudden blow to relatives in California and beyond. One campaign for Temo said, “This loss is even more heartbreaking as Temo and his dear brother, Ramzi, passed away together in a plane crash.” The post said funds would help with travel and funeral expenses. Another campaign was organized for Ramzi Al-Shurman’s wife, Nadeen, and their three children. Relatives described him as a young father who had worked toward a future in aviation.
The investigation remains in its early stage. Officials had not said whether weather, mechanical problems, terrain, pilot decisions or another factor contributed to the crash. Investigators are expected to review the wreckage, flight history, maintenance records, pilot records, available radar data and any witness reports. A preliminary report could outline basic facts before a final NTSB report determines probable cause, a process that can take months or longer.
The Canyon Fire was nearly contained by Tuesday, but the crash investigation remained open. Authorities had confirmed two deaths, the aircraft type and the fire’s burned acreage, while the cause of the crash and the final account of the aircraft’s last moments were still unknown.
Author note: Last updated Tuesday, May 12, 2026.