Three Tesla employees reported dead in Palo Alto plane crash

Jalopnik is reporting that the three people who died in a Palo Alto plane crash this morning were Tesla employees.

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Anonymous

Who Killed the Electric Car Execs?
KWillets

Oh the Electricity!
Daemon

Three more of his automatons down. Crap.
First he dies in poverty, and now his artificial human creations are being destroyed in… “accidents”
huntsu

Tesla Motors?
Anonymous

No, Tesla Dental Floss.
demidan

Damn you big oil!!!!
mdh

conspiracy theory in 4…3…2…1..
- rebdav
  
  And they were carrying the secret prototype of they hybrid 100 mile per gallon hemp oil carburetor with them after refusing to sell out to GM, RJR, and Big Oil.
Osprey101

Just goes to show you- flying is indeed safer than driving.
KWillets

There’s a great deal of irony in them hitting power lines.
Anonymous

Wow, the internet is harsh today.

If this is true, it is very sad, and probably means the company is done for. It’s a shame.
Anonymous

I don’t see them described as execs anywhere. A senior electrical engineer and two other employees.
scottunder

The pilot was Doug Bourn, an old-school electrical engineer who worked at IDEO for ten years before joining Tesla Motors (along with several other ex-IDEOers). Doug got his instructor’s license and taught ground school at IDEO, certifying many colleagues. He loved to fly, and was often available to friends for pleasure flights and longer excursions. He flew for work-related events on occasion when possible and practical.

He was a tremendously cautious and professional pilot, and at least one report commended the skill of the pilot for avoiding buildings by setting the plane in the street. If the crash turns out to be pilot error (dense fog, power lines) it will be a sad surprise for many of his associates and passengers who saw him in action. His generosity and friendship will be missed by many.
- arkizzle / Moderator
  
  scottunder,
  
  Thanks for the update and clarification.
  
  RIP, all involved.