When people talk about the "Huntington Beach spirit," they usually mean something about the ocean, the grit of the local surf culture, or maybe just that specific brand of Orange County resilience. But lately, when you hear the name Kelly Reid Huntington Beach mentioned in coffee shops or on the sidelines of local sports fields, the conversation feels different. It’s heavy. It’s deeply personal.
Honestly, it’s about a girl who seemed to be everywhere at once. She wasn’t just another face in the hallway at Huntington Beach High School. She was a three-sport varsity powerhouse—soccer, flag football, and lacrosse.
Then, everything stopped on January 2, 2025.
The news hit like a physical weight. Kelly and her father, Pascal Reid, were killed when their small plane went down shortly after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport. It wasn’t just a "local tragedy" in the way news anchors describe things. It was a massive, jagged hole ripped into the fabric of the community.
What Happened with Kelly Reid and the Fullerton Crash?
You’ve probably seen the headlines about the Van’s RV-10. It was a kit plane, the kind of aircraft a dedicated pilot builds with their own hands over hundreds of hours. Pascal Reid wasn't some hobbyist who didn't know his way around a cockpit. He was an Army aviation veteran, a test pilot with over 1,000 hours under his belt, and a certified FAA repairman.
He was meticulous.
On that Thursday afternoon, the plane took off from Fullerton. Less than ten minutes later, something went wrong. Pascal radioed in. He needed an "immediate landing." There was a back-and-forth with the tower—should he try Runway 6 or Runway 24? In those frantic 33 seconds, a decision was made to go for 24.
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The plane never made it. It struck a furniture warehouse about 1,200 feet short of the runway.
It’s easy to look at the NTSB reports and talk about "ground tracks" or "ADS-B data." But for the people in Huntington Beach, the data doesn't matter. What matters is that a 16-year-old junior with a 2026 graduation date on her horizon was gone.
A Three-Sport Legend in the Making
Kelly Reid was basically the definition of a "natural." You don't just "play" three varsity sports; you survive them. She excelled.
On the soccer field, she wore the number six. Her coach later said that number symbolizes love and harmony, which, if you knew Kelly, was pretty much her brand. She was an attacking midfielder, standing 5'8", known for a combination of "fun and focus." That’s a rare mix. Usually, kids are either goofing off or so intense they’re vibrating. Kelly found the middle.
Then there was flag football.
She wasn't just a player; she was a mentor. Her teammates described her as someone who left a "stamp" on everyone. She had this way of leading without being loud about it.
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- Soccer: Attacking midfielder, varsity standout.
- Flag Football: A leader who mentored younger players.
- Lacrosse: Described by coaches as having the "perfect combination of fun and focus."
The Bond Between Pascal and Kelly
You can't talk about Kelly Reid Huntington Beach without talking about her dad. Pascal was the guy at every single game. Seriously. Rain or shine, he was there.
There’s something particularly tragic about the fact that they were together in that plane. Aviation was Pascal's passion—he had traveled and camped out with his plane all over the country. Sharing that with Kelly was part of their bond. Friends of the family mentioned how proud he was of her. Not just of the goals she scored or the games she won, but of the person she was becoming.
It’s a "village" kind of town. When the news broke, the Huntington Beach High School girls’ soccer and flag football programs didn't just post a corporate-style "our thoughts are with the family" message. They shared memories of a girl who was "genuine and kind."
They held a vigil at the First Christian Church. Hundreds of teenagers, usually awkward and glued to their phones, stood in silence. That tells you everything you need to know about her impact.
Dealing with the Aftermath in Huntington Beach
People are still looking for answers. The NTSB investigation is a slow process. They look at engine power, wreckage patterns, and weather. But for the 19 people injured inside the warehouse that the plane struck, and for the students at HBHS, the "why" is secondary to the "now what?"
The school has had to navigate the impossible task of starting a new semester without one of its brightest stars. Grief counselors, memorials on the fence, jerseys retired—it's the standard protocol for a nightmare.
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But Kelly’s legacy is a bit more vibrant than just a memorial. It’s in the way her teammates play now. They talk about her "passion for life." It sounds like a cliché until you see the way a community rallies.
Moving Forward: Lessons from a Life Cut Short
If there is anything to take away from the story of Kelly Reid, it’s not about the dangers of experimental aircraft or the statistics of small-plane travel.
It’s about the "number six" philosophy.
Kelly was a caregiver. She put others first. In a world where high school sports can get incredibly toxic and competitive, she remained "genuine." That’s the actionable part of this story for the rest of us.
- Show up like Pascal. Whether it’s a soccer game or a small hobby, being present for the people you love matters more than the outcome.
- Lead with kindness. You can be a "star" and still be the person who mentors the freshman who doesn't know how to hold a lacrosse stick.
- Find the "Fun and Focus." Life is too short to be all business, but too important to be all play.
The investigation into the crash will eventually close. The NTSB will release a final report. But the story of Kelly Reid Huntington Beach isn't found in a government PDF. It’s found in the hearts of the people who saw her run across a field under the Friday night lights, wearing number six, doing exactly what she loved.
To honor her memory, the community continues to support the Reid family and the local athletic programs that Kelly championed. For those looking to help, keeping the spirit of mentorship and sportsmanship alive in local youth leagues is the most direct way to ensure her "stamp" on the world never fades.
The focus now remains on supporting the survivors—both those from the warehouse and the family members left behind—as they navigate a landscape that looks very different without Kelly and Pascal.
Check the Huntington Beach High School Athletics pages or local community boards for upcoming memorial events or scholarship funds established in her name. Supporting these initiatives ensures that future "number sixes" have the same opportunities to lead, play, and inspire.