GILROY
– A small airplane crashed near state Highway 152 in the hills
east of Gilroy this morning, killing one occupant and badly
injuring another.
GILROY – A small airplane crashed near state Highway 152 in the hills east of Gilroy this morning, killing one occupant and badly injuring another.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Rockwell Aero Commander crashed in the fog-shrouded Dinosaur Point area near the summit of Pacheco Pass Highway.
The California Highway Patrol received reports of the crash at roughly 9 a.m.
People on the scene put the crash roughly three miles west of Dinosaur Point between Dinosaur Point and Bell Station in a heavily wooded area with steep terrain.
“There were at least two people on board, and at least one of them was killed,” said Donn Walker, spokesman for the FAA’s Western Pacific Headquarters. “The other survived and was burned, but despite that managed to walk away from the wreckage and get to a nearby highway where he flagged down a car.
“It’s pretty amazing.”
According to observers at the scene, the injured victim suffered second- and third-degree burns and was taken by ambulance and then helicopter to Valley Medical Center in San Jose.
The deceased occupant was also badly burned, according to witnesses. The survivor of the crash is believed to be from the San Mateo area, according to Terry Mayes, spokesperson for the CHP.
“It looks like the plane was flying in a southerly direction and it clipped the top of a tree and burst into flames,” Mayes said. “(The survivor) is not in good shape.”
Further details on the identities of the plane’s occupants, their route and destination were unavailable immediately at press time.
The National Traffic Safety Board usually conducts investigations of airplane crashes, Walker said. NTSB officials said they did not immediately have information Monday morning. It remained unclear at press time today if the plane had one or two engines.
