A 61-year-old Aptos man died after flying his motorized glider
into electrical lines during a flying demonstration after a
wedding, friends and the coroner’s office said.
A 61-year-old Aptos man died after flying his motorized glider into electrical lines during a flying demonstration after a wedding, friends and the coroner’s office said.
Danny Franklin White was flying his ultralight glider above a wedding party at Bonacich Ranch in unincorporated southwest Gilroy about 8 p.m. Saturday and flew into a set of electrical lines, said George Bonacich, who owns the ranch.
“He was taking his glider and actually showing people how to fly and he hit the power line. Everybody rushed over to him,” he said. “It was too late.”
Although White was still alive and speaking, he was injured badly, Bonacich said. White was taken by helicopter to Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where he died soon after, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.
The coroner was “unsure if (White’s death) was caused by electrocution, contact with the power lines or trauma” – including hitting the ground – according to a report.
White, Bonacich and others were gathered at the ranch, 7285 Pacheco Pass Highway, for the marriage of Bonacich’s grandson, Raven Bonacich, and Joan Chapman, George Bonacich said. White was Raven Bonacich’s high school teacher in Santa Cruz. White also shared a passion for flying with Raven Bonacich, who pilots F-16 fighter jets for the U.S. Air Force.
“He was just a good part of his life,” George Bonacich said. “It was such a tragic thing.”
Details of White’s planned memorial service were not available by posting time.
More details on the accident and White’s life will be posted as information becomes available.
