The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On Plane Crash That Killed Two Near Hesperia Airport
The NTSB released a preliminary report on the September 24 plane crash in Hesperia that killed Guy Kapulnik, 46, of Los Angeles, and Taylor Laska, 33, of Santa Monica. A witness described the airplane rolling over before descending toward the ground. The cause remains under investigation. Read more at VVNG.com #Hesperia #vvng #news
A preliminary NTSB report has been released about a September plane crash near Hesperia that resulted in two fatalities, including a flight instructor and a passenger.
The incident involved an Aeronca 7AC, registration N12DF, and occurred on September 24, 2026, roughly 1.5 miles southwest of Hesperia Airport.
Witnesses described the aircraft rolling over before descending toward the ground, with the tail appearing lower than the wings and moving from right to left prior to the rollover.
The pilot, Guy Kapulnik (46) of Los Angeles, and the passenger, Taylor Laska (33) of Santa Monica, were pronounced dead at the scene. The airplane was operating as a personal flight.
According to the airplane’s operator, the pilot rented the aircraft and had departed from Apple Valley Airport that morning, with no destination given but a question about somewhere to have breakfast.
Investigators recovered the aircraft in open desert at an elevation of about 3,584 feet above mean sea level, with the nose-down orientation and various structural deformations noted; the investigation is ongoing and no cause has been identified in the preliminary report.