Authorities discovered a small plane in South County on Sunday
that had crashed Saturday, killing an administrator from a private
college in Texas.
Hollister – Authorities discovered a small plane in South County on Sunday that had crashed Saturday, killing an administrator from a private college in Texas.
According to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department, Billy Dean Hardage, 61, took off from the Watsonville Airport Saturday morning at about 9 am. The crash probably occurred just before 5pm, when the Civil Air Patrol received a transponder signal from the downed plane.
The Sheriff’s department was notified of the crash at 6:30am Sunday morning. Three officers were flown into the site, approximately four miles east of the Bear Valley California Department of Forestry and Fire station, in a CHP helicopter, according to Sgt. Mike Rodrigues of the county sheriff’s department. The site of the crash, east of the 25,000 block of Airline Highway, was too rocky and steep for automobile access. Officers spent four hours on the scene before recovering the body from the crash and airlifting it away.
“The plane didn’t seem to be damaged too badly, considering,” said Rodrigues. “But it was pretty rugged out there.”
Currently the body is undergoing autopsy at the San Benito County Morgue. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating to determine the cause of the crash, which is currently unknown. Weather difficulties and low-level maneuvering are the leading cause of fatality accidents among small-plane pilots, according the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
“An investigation like this could take anywhere from several weeks to several months,” said FAA Spokesman Allan Kenitzer. “It just depends on the complexity of the case.”
Hardage served as Executive Vice President at Wayland Baptist University, which he attended as a youth and worked for 40 years.
According to the university, Hardage was in Watsonville to pick up a new Air Coupe plane. He was flying it back to Wayland in Plainview, Texas when the crash occurred.
“Doctor Hardage gave 40 years of his life to Wayland, and was involved in every aspect of the life and ministry of the school,” said Wayland President Paul Armes on Monday. “He leaves a gap that no one else can fill.”
Hardage leaves a wife and two grown children, who were notified of his death late Sunday. Wayland will be establishing a scholarship in memory of his service to the university.
“Once it reaches $25,000 it will become an endowed scholarship,” said Armes. “And considering how many people (Hardage) has impacted, I don’t think it will be very long.”
Hardage’s death is the first fatality air crash in San Benito County in four years, according to the county sheriff’s department.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
