One man died and another was in critical condition after a
single-engine airplane crashed into a wooded knoll in rural
southern Santa Clara County just west of Dinosaur Point near state
Highway 152 at about 9 a.m. Monday.
One man died and another was in critical condition after a single-engine airplane crashed into a wooded knoll in rural southern Santa Clara County just west of Dinosaur Point near state Highway 152 at about 9 a.m. Monday.
The survivor and passenger, 24-year-old Gurtej Singh Gill of San Mateo, managed to climb downhill out of the canyon to seek help.
Gill was bloodied and burned when he reached Highway 152 and was seen along the side of the road by passing motorists.
“People were yelling over the CB radio that there was a crazy guy on the side of the road,” said Gary Kauth, a Sacramento truck driver who pulled over to help.
Kauth said the victim, wearing a flight school ID, was trying to use a cell phone while shouting at him that someone was trapped in the plane.
“You could see he was in pain with at least first- and second-degree burns,” he said.
Gill was taken by ambulance to a turnout location on West 152 where Calstar airlifted him to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition this morning.
The pilot was identified as Mohammed Ali Omidvar, the owner of the plane. He died at the scene.
Terrance Helm, public information officer for Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office, said the owner was working to acquire another level of certification.
“He was a pilot and had a few other planes,” he said.
According to Carl Honaker, acting director of county airports, the single-engine, four-seater Aero Commander left Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose around 8 a.m. en route to the Central Valley.
“Weather service reported fairly cloudy skies with low clouds up in the hills, which might be a factor,” Honaker said.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Dave Hill said the plane was apparently heading in a southeasterly direction when it crashed into trees, then dropped into the side of a hill, exploding on impact and skidding about 20 feet into a heavily wooded area.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, according to officials.
