Victims Killed In IE Plane Crash Include Pilot Who Was Also An Actor

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA — The pilot and his passenger who were killed last week in a plane crash in the Inland Empire's high desert have been identified by the San Bernardino County coroner's office.

Pilot Guy Kapulnik, 46, of Los Angeles, and Taylor Laska, 33, of Santa Monica, died in the crash that was reported just before 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, the area of Summit Valley Road and Telephone Canyon Road, about 3 miles away from Hesperia Airport.

Reporting from the scene shows the single-engine Aeronca Champion aircraft nose down in an open field. Various media reports indicate the plane was operated by Midfield Aviation in Apple Valley, which provides flight training and rents aircraft for lessons and pleasure.

According to his social media accounts, Kapulnik was an avid flyer and flight instructor who also did some acting, including movie roles in 2012's Room 514 and 2020's Hacked.

It's unclear what the relationship between Laska and Kapulnik was. Patch has reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration for more specifics about the crash.

People took to social media to remember Kapulnik.

"Guy was my flight instructor, he taught me how to fly," one person shared. "He was such a nice guy. He came here from Israel to chase his dreams to be an airline pilot."

"Thank you for everything you've taught me," another shared. "You were a great human and will be truly missed."

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.