08:33 AM PDT on Tuesday, July 18, 2006

By kgw.com and KGW Staff

The pilot killed in a plane crash at the Hillsboro air show last weekend survived a similar crash 17 years ago.

KGW graphic

Robert Guilford, a 73-year-old California attorney with a passion for altitude, flew a WWII jet in 1989 that suddenly underwent engine failure and crashed into a Santa Monica home, the pilot's son, Steve Guilford, told KGW-TV. The elder Guilford and his wife were the only ones injured.

A veteran pilot with more than 4,000 hours of flying experience, Robert Guilford was committed to flying safely, his son said. He was also an authorized instructor on six types of vintage military jets and as a lawyer, he specialized in aviation accident law; he represented hundreds of air crash victims.

Robin McCall of the law firm Baum Hedlund said Guilford loved flying and constantly brought in pictures of his plane to the office.

  Read family statement about pilot

His law firm said it would issue a statement Monday. McCall noted that Guilford graduated from Harvard Law School and had been flying since 1961.  Co-worker says Guilford will be greatly missed

"It's an incredible loss," she said.

More facts about Robert Guilford:

- 73-year-old attorney in Southern California

- Represented plane accident victims in legal cases

- Was the only FAA-authorized instructor to train pilots to fly the Hawker Hunter plane

- 44 years experience as a licensed pilot

- 4,000 + hours as a pilot since 1961

- Co-founded “Warbirds of America”