California Crash Kills Student

A bloody CFI staggered to the roadside Monday, trying to get help for his student, who was still trapped in the wreckage of a 25-year-old Rockwell Aero Commander 112. Gurtej Singh Gill, described by drivers who didn't stop to help him, started what California Highway Patrol spokeswoman called, "...a lot of CB traffic about a crazy bloody guy running all over the lanes."

The "crazy bloody guy," otherwise known as an heroic, dedicated and determined CFI, was able to tell police where to find the wreck, even though the morning's fog was so thick they couldn't see the smoke. Gill, who is in Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in critical condition, was able to describe how to find his (unidentified) student, even though he (Gill) was himself in terrible condition, bruised, bleeding, and suffering third-degree burns "all over."

Police took nearly half an hour to reach the fiery wreck, so rugged was the terrain; they were able to confirm that the remaining occupant was dead. They then worked on the fire. The cause of the accident has not been determined, though suspicions of fast-closing weather on that VFR flight are engendering local speculation.

**   Report created 6/10/2003   Record 8  **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 4696W        Make/Model: AC11      Description: 112 Commander 112
  Date: 06/09/2003     Time: 1600
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
  City: SANTA CLARA   State: CA   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  AC112TCA ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES AND WAS DESTROYED, ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURIED AND THE SECOND PERSON ON BOARD WAS SERIOUSLY INJURIED, SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:  2     Fat:   1     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: UNK
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: UNK                         Dep Date:    Dep. Time:
  Destination: UNK                      Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK
  FAA FSDO: SAN JOSE, CA  (WP15)                  Entry date: 06/10/2003