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Darwin Awards
2009 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Low Flying Drunk CONFIRMED

2009 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

I sent an email yesterday (using a different email name... this is my non-casual email). I did go to the Vancouver Public library, found the clipping of the plane crash that didn't have enough detail, and used keywords to find the follow up article.

Your "Low Flying Drunk" submission is true. Your date however is inaccurate. It actually occured the night of May 11, 1995. Also they didn't even have their navigation lights on, and had booze in the plane!!!

I will attach the article that detail the event (Article 1), and the follow up article that confirms they were drunk and did steal the plane (Article 2). Unfortunately you cannot access the archives unless you have a library card. I feel proud to have confirmed this suspect Darwin Award. It was exciting to track down the information.

Sincerely,

John Reda of Vancouver, BC, Canada

P.S. - I would appreciate a response email to ensure you received all my information. Also you may publish my name.

************ Article 1 ************** Citation style: ProQuest Standard Document 1 of 1

2 die as plane crashes on highway:[FINAL Edition] PETTI FONG. The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.:May 12, 1995. p. B.4

Abstract (Summary)

A small unlit plane skimmed low along the Trans-Canada Highway before crashing and burning in Chilliwack early Thursday morning.

An autopsy report on the two men pulled from the wreckage is expected next week. Investigators are using dental records to identify the pair, believed to be from the area.

As it fell out of the sky, the four-seater Cessna 172 slammed into trucker Edward Gidinski's rig. He said he screeched to a halt, but could not avoid the falling plane before it hit the highway's fast lane and exploded into flames. Full Text (329 words) (Copyright The Vancouver Sun)

A small unlit plane skimmed low along the Trans-Canada Highway before crashing and burning in Chilliwack early Thursday morning.

An autopsy report on the two men pulled from the wreckage is expected next week. Investigators are using dental records to identify the pair, believed to be from the area.

As it fell out of the sky, the four-seater Cessna 172 slammed into trucker Edward Gidinski's rig. He said he screeched to a halt, but could not avoid the falling plane before it hit the highway's fast lane and exploded into flames.

``A second later I grabbed the fire extinguisher and some people were out already.

``One guy emptied out his extinguisher, but there was no way we could get closer.''

Gidinski said a unrecognizable burning body with no hair and clothes was half in the plane and half sprawled on the road. He could see a hand move, but could not tell if the person was still alive when it crashed.

The plane nosedived down with the tail straight up in the air, he said. Within seconds the fuselage was burning into the rest of the plane. Only part of the wing is uncharred.

Sgt. Al Segstro said the plane was flying low over nearby homes when it went down by the Lickman Road overpass.

``A witness says she saw a light flash as it hit the wire.

``The wire came in contact with the tail section of the aircraft and the plane went down. The aircraft prior to the collision was following the contour of the road and flying without the navigation lights on,'' he said.

The autopsy will reveal whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Power was knocked out in parts of Abbotsford and Chilliwack and the Trans-Canada was closed from 1:30 a.m. to about 5 a.m. while police cleared the wreckage.

*** Infomart-Online *** [Illustration] Black & White Photo; VANCOUVER SUN; CRASH SITE: WRECKAGE OF BURNED CESSNA IS CLEARED FROM TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY THURSDAY MORNING (95-3024)

Credit: VANSUN Indexing (document details) Author(s): PETTI FONG Document types: NEWS Section: NEWS Publication title: The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.: May 12, 1995. pg. B.4 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 08321299 ProQuest document ID: 21168355 Text Word Count 329 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=21168355&Fmt=3&clientId=26918&RQT=309&VName=PQD

************ End of Article 1*************

This is the confirming article:

************ Article 2 *****************

Citation style: ProQuest Standard Document 1 of 1

`Young kid' dreamed of flying:[FINAL Edition] DEREK McNAUGHTON. The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.:Jun 20, 1995. p. B.7

Abstract (Summary)

Chilliwack RCMP used dental records to identify the burned bodies of [Paul] Boisclair, 26, and Brent Williamson, 23, inside the plane.

The Chilliwack coroner's office on Monday said both men had blood-alcohol levels higher than .17 -- twice the legal limit allowed for driving a car -- at the time of the plane crash.

But who was Boisclair, and how did he end up dead in a stolen plane in the middle of the highway? Full Text (445 words) (Copyright The Vancouver Sun)

Paul Boisclair always wanted to be a pilot.

But when he slammed a stolen Cessna 172 into a transport rig on the Trans-Canada Highway in the early morning hours of May 11, his dream of flight died instantly along with his friend.

Chilliwack RCMP used dental records to identify the burned bodies of Boisclair, 26, and Brent Williamson, 23, inside the plane.

The Chilliwack coroner's office on Monday said both men had blood-alcohol levels higher than .17 -- twice the legal limit allowed for driving a car -- at the time of the plane crash.

But who was Boisclair, and how did he end up dead in a stolen plane in the middle of the highway?

Those who knew him say Boisclair's friends were pilots. They say he used to fly with his father.

The Chilliwack man worked his way up from cleaning aircraft parts to selling them for Upper Valley Aviation. Sometimes he asked his customers if he could fly along with them.

He knew how to start planes, had taxied them around on the tarmac of the airport. He bragged to friends that he had stolen a plane before. He did not have his pilot's licence, which, at about $10,000, was more than Boisclair could afford, said his boss Ken Smith.

``He didn't have that kind of money,'' Smith said.

``Paul had a bunch of other problems, financial, girlfriend, and he just decided to be reckless. He was a typical young kid who would go out and get smashed, you know, like a lot of kids do.''

The urge to fly was still with Boisclair the night he went drinking May 10 with Williamson at a Chilliwack bar called Greg's Place. Boisclair knew a Cessna 172 had been readied at work that day for a rental customer.

Bolstered with liquor, the two men climbed into the four-seat rental plane after leaving the bar. They taxied out to the runway and took off.

Chilliwack RCMP Sgt. Al Segstro said the plane flew low over homes near the highway. Witnesses said the plane was following the contour of the highway without navigation lights when the tail section clipped a power line.

Truck driver Al Gidinski said the plane dropped from the sky and burst into flames. He tried to help others who had stopped and were spraying the plane with fire extinguishers. Gidinski said he saw the bodies burn.

``Paul was young, brave and stupid,'' said Chilliwack Flying Club president John Bergsma. ``He would never have done something like that sober.''

*** Infomart-Online *** [Illustration] Black & White Photo; CRAIG HODGE; VANCOUVER SUN; WRECKAGE: CRASH INVESTIGATORS REMOVE REMAINS OF STOLEN AIRCRAFT IN MAY

Credit: VANCOUVER SUN Indexing (document details) Author(s): DEREK McNAUGHTON Document types: NEWS Section: NEWS Publication title: The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.: Jun 20, 1995. pg. B.7 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 08321299 ProQuest document ID: 21272216 Text Word Count 445 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=21272216&Fmt=3&clientId=26918&RQT=309&VName=PQD

************** End of Article 2 *****************

Thanks guys for making midterm week a little more interesting and fun!!!

Submitted on 02/28/2009

Submitted by: John Reda
Reference: Vancouver Sun Achrives May 11, 1995

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Thanks, John, but as this happened almost 15 years ago I'm inclined to toss it simply because it's likely a repeat. Although our searchable archives don't go back that far this does sound very similar to a story I recall reading before. And more importantly the fact that there was a passenger involved is grounds to invoke the hurt bystanders rule. Thanks just the same for all the work on this. We do appreciate it.


Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Thank you for the clarification, but I have to go with Bruce. Plus, I went thru ALL the online archives AND the books before deciding to become a moderator and I could swear I've read a very similar story before. Thank you, and please submit (and clarify when needed!) again!


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