When you hear the names Paul and Matthew Berkowitz, it’s hard not to feel a heavy pit in your stomach. Honestly, it's one of those stories that just stops you in your tracks. You’ve probably seen the headlines or maybe a snippet on the evening news about a small plane going down in a quiet neighborhood. But behind those sterile reports of "two fatalities" is a story about a father, a son, and a bond that was basically built around the clouds.
What actually happened in Simi Valley?
It was a Saturday afternoon in May 2025. Specifically, May 3rd. The kind of day where the weather in Southern California usually feels like a postcard. Paul Berkowitz, 69, and his son Matthew, 36, were in Paul’s amateur-built Van’s RV-10. They had taken off from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and were heading toward Camarillo.
Then things went sideways.
Around 2:10 p.m., the plane went down in the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley. It didn't just land in a field; it crashed right into a residential neighborhood on High Meadow Street. Witnesses said they saw the plane circling, dipping in and out of the clouds before it clipped a palm tree and slammed between two houses.
The impact was violent. Fire followed.
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The truly heartbreaking part? Paul’s dog, Brody, was also on board. He went everywhere with Paul. All three—Paul, Matthew, and Brody—didn't make it. It’s a miracle no one on the ground was hurt, though two families basically had their homes ruined in an instant.
Who were Paul and Matthew Berkowitz?
To understand why this hit the aviation and local community so hard, you have to look at who these guys were when they weren't in the cockpit.
Paul Berkowitz wasn't just some hobbyist. He was a guy who reinvented himself. For years, he was a master plumber, running a family business. But his real "second act" was as an entrepreneur in the pet care world. He owned the Bow Wow Bungalow in Burbank. People called it the "Disneyland for dogs." He was the kind of guy who took his business from 20 dogs to 120 dogs in a single day after the COVID lockdowns eased.
He eventually sold the business to retire and fly. That was his dream. He even flew missions for Pilots N Paws, transporting rescue dogs to their new homes.
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Matthew Berkowitz was 36 and had followed a pretty interesting path himself. He’d spent time in Hollywood pursuing acting earlier in his life. Later, he moved into construction, where he apparently had a knack for building relationships as much as buildings. But the real thread in his life was his dad. They shared this obsession with flying. If Paul was up there, Matt usually wanted to be in the seat next to him.
The Van’s RV-10 and the "Homebuilt" Factor
There’s been a lot of chatter about the aircraft itself. The RV-10 is a popular "kit plane." For people who don't know, this means the owner often builds a significant portion of the plane themselves.
- Performance: These planes are known for being fast and responsive.
- The Build: Paul was a tinkerer—a master plumber and a guy who knew how systems worked—so building a plane was right up his alley.
- The Risk: Experimental aircraft don't always have the same redundant safety systems as a commercial Boeing, but they are generally considered safe if maintained by someone meticulous.
Investigators from the NTSB and the FAA spent months looking at the wreckage. One big factor they looked at was the weather. Simi Valley can get "socked in" with clouds quickly, and neighbors mentioned the plane seemed to be struggling with visibility right before the crash.
Why this story still matters
It’s easy to look at a plane crash as just another tragic statistic. But the Berkowitz story sticks with you because it’s about the cost of a passion. Paul Berkowitz died doing exactly what he loved, with the person he loved most, and his best four-legged friend by his side.
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There’s a sort of bittersweetness to it.
The family's statement after the crash was incredibly graceful. They didn't point fingers; they just talked about the joy the two men found in the sky. It reminds you that life is fragile, and the things that make us feel most alive—like flying a small plane over the California coast—are often the things that carry the most risk.
Lessons from the Berkowitz legacy
If there’s anything to take away from this, it’s probably about how Paul lived his later years. He didn't just sit on a porch. He used his pilot's license to save animals. He built a business that people actually liked. He stayed close to his son.
If you're a private pilot or thinking about getting into aviation, the Simi Valley incident is a sobering reminder of a few things:
- Weather is the boss. Always. If the clouds are dipping, the safest place is on the ground.
- Maintenance is everything. With homebuilt kits like the RV-10, you are the mechanic and the pilot.
- Legacy counts. Paul’s work with Pilots N Paws left a tangible mark on the world that outlasted the crash.
The NTSB's final report usually takes a long time—sometimes up to two years—to fully detail every mechanical or pilot-related factor. But for those who knew Paul and Matthew Berkowitz, the "why" matters less than the "who." They were two guys who lived with a lot of heart, and they'll be remembered for the joy they brought to the ground, even if they're missed in the sky.
If you're looking for ways to honor their memory, checking out local animal rescues or supporting organizations like Pilots N Paws is a pretty direct way to keep Paul's specific brand of kindness going. It's what he would have been doing on a Sunday morning anyway.