Sonoma Valley Plane Crash Victim Was 'Beloved' USF Faculty Member

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- San Francisco man William Sachs Goldman, 38, killed Thursday in a plane crash near the Sonoma Skypark Airport in Sonoma Valley, was a faculty member at University of San Francisco, where he was known as an "accomplished scholar" and a "beloved and generous teacher," the university said in a statement released following news of his passing.

"The University of San Francisco community is devastated to learn of the death of faculty member Bill Goldman in a Sonoma County plane crash," USF President Paul Fitzgerald said. "Bill, an assistant professor in international studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, was an accomplished scholar, a beloved and generous teacher, and a valued member of our community. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues, students and the countless alumni who were inspired by him in and out of the classroom."

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said Thursday afternoon there were four people aboard the plane when it crashed at about 12:45 p.m. in a rural field near San Luis Road and Broadway, in the Schellville area.

• SF Man Dead, 3 Hospitalized In Sonoma Valley Plane Crash

The single-engine Cirrus SR22 went down "under unknown circumstances" about 1,000 feet west of the airport, Federal Aviation Administration Spokesman Ian Gregor said. "The FAA and NTSB will investigate," he said.

Goldman was confirmed dead at the scene, and three passengers -- Goldman's wife and two young children -- were rushed to area hospitals. Two were taken by helicopter, while the other was transported by ambulance.

"Bill's wife Serra is an alumna of the USF School of Law and a member of the university's Board of Trustees," Fitzgerald said. "We are standing in prayerful solidarity with her and with Bill and Serra's young children, George and Marie, now and in the days ahead."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo via University of San Francisco