Longtime Crestline resident and community leader Michael “Mick” Hill, 74, was killed in a plane crash near Woodlake, California, on Saturday, May 23.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating what caused the aircraft to go down. According to the agency, Hill took off from the Woodlake Airport, and his plane went down after attempting to return to the airport.
A report by the Federal Aviation Administration states Hill’s aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances, striking a power line and involving a post-crash fire.
Hill’s aircraft is registered as a single-engine Mooney M20 built in 1978 as per the United States Department of Transportation registry. It had a valid flight status at the time of the crash.
According to friends and family online, Hill was a few weeks short of his 75th birthday.
According to Mountain News, Hill was the owner of Mick Hill Enterprises, a contracting firm that built homes and businesses in the San Bernardino Mountains.
He also served as president of the Crestline – Lake Gregory Rotary Club from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, Hill was a champion voice for the economic development of Crestline as a member of the Crestline Dam Committee and the Rim of the World Recreation and Park District.
The mountain outlet quoted Pastor Bill Mellinger of Crestline, stating that Hill was regarded as the “mayor of Crestline” for all the work he did in the unincorporated community.
Friend Greg Bloomfield commented online that Hill was an astute businessman, builder, publisher, pilot and owner of several planes. He says it is hard to imagine that a man with several hobby planes wouldn’t catch an issue with the aircraft prior to takeoff, and speculates whether the malfunction was instead health-related.
Residents belonging to a Crestline group on Facebook also commented on the community leader’s death.
According to Crestline resident Rhea-Frances Tetley, Hill bought the Alpine Mountaineer newspaper to keep it from shutting down. She says he never made a dime of profit but wanted community residents to stay informed.
Teresa Archambault Radsick shared a lighthearted anecdote about Hill online. “He generously helped me pay a water bill in Cedarpines Park when my pipe broke under snow and ice. It wasn’t caught by the water company until 30,000 gallons later! I got a chance to thank him again a couple of weeks ago when we chanced to meet in Goodwins.”
Crestline resident Kathleen Taylor says Hill had property in Tulare County and was planning on moving there to retire. “A few years back, he came over to give me a quote on building a carport at my cabin. He told me to stop fixing my cabin and move to the beach. So I am. Thanks, Mick, for the inspiration.”
Many more commented that they will miss the late pilot and offer prayers to the Hill family.