Mayor Dr. Bill Kirby dies in plane crash near Auburn airport

Auburn Mayor Dr. Bill Kirby was piloting the older of two planes he owned when he was killed in a crash about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, shortly after departing Auburn Municipal Airport, his daughter, Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez, confirmed Monday. The Placer County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday afternoon that William Warner Kirby, 72, of Auburn was killed in the crash, though Kirby's family announced his death in a statement issued Saturday night. The Federal Aviation Administration said Kirby was the registered owner of the Cessna 206 plane and was the pilot. Kirby was flying with an instructor, Kirby-Gonzalez told the Auburn Journal on Monday morning. Kirby was a pilot for 50 years. "He would never get in a plane that he was worried about. He knew how to check every part of the plane," Kirby-Gonzalez said. The passenger, who had not been identified as of Tuesday morning, sustained serious injuries, according to the FAA. "I could hear it sputtering and it made a really hard right to miss the homes and it instantly caught fire," a neighbor near the crash site told CBS13. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. "We are glad they are conducting a formal investigation," Kirby-Gonzalez said. According to NTSB Public Affairs Officer Terry Williams, the investigation is in the early fact-gathering phase and information is being obtained from local authorities. The investigation could take 12 to 18 months and will review the plane's maintenance records, the pilot's records and training, the weather and witness statements. A preliminary report should be completed in 10 to 12 days. "Our family is devastated by this tragic news," the family said in its statement. "Bill devoted decades of enthusiastic and loving support to his family, his patients and the Auburn community he loved so much. We will miss him immensely but take comfort in knowing he died while flying – one of the other loves of his life." Kirby was a practicing urologist and resident of Auburn for 30 years. He was chairman of the Tumor Board at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Chief of Medical Staff at Sutter Auburn Faith, the first Chairman of the Institutional Review Committee at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and Chief of the Surgery Department at Roseville Community Hospital, according to the city of Auburn website. He also served 10 years on the Foundation Board of the Roseville Community Hospital and Foundation Board of Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital. Kirby, who believed in giving back to the community, also worked with the Placer High School Athletic Department for more than three decades and provided free physicals for students. Kirby worked with the "Flying Doctors" to help run free medical clinics in rural villages. Kirby recently sparked outrage in the community after a series of public Facebook posts and comments criticizing the White House's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. His position as mayor was questioned, with some demanding his removal from office. Kirby announced April 13 he would nominate Councilman Daniel Berlant to serve as mayor for the remainder of the year at the April 27 City Council meeting. On Thursday, the City Council announced a special meeting would be held Monday to appoint a new mayor, but that meeting was cancelled. Kirby served as president of Auburn Little League and as a director of the Auburn Area Recreation & Park District, according to the family's statement. He also was a Rotarian. Kirby is survived by his son, James Kirby, daughter Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez, son-in-law Adam Gonzalez and grandchildren Addison and Chloe Gonzalez, according to the family's statement. "He loved his family, especially his two granddaughters," the statement read. "He poured his passion into life and the world is a better place because of him."