Family members confirmed Sunday, 90-year-old Jerry Naylor of Scotch Grove died Saturday afternoon when his small aircraft crashed in a cornfield near the Monticello Regional Airport.
Son, David Naylor, said his father had been flying since 1945 and still had an active commercial pilot's license at the time of his death.
"He was very active," said David. "He flew about two to three times a week."
David said his father was making a regular local flight Saturday when the plane went down around 4:00 in the afternoon. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration's Des Moines office and the National Transportation Safety Board from Chicago will be conducting an investigation to determine what led to the crash.
Jerry had been flying with his dog who survived the crash. Jerry's son said the Goldendoodle, Jasmine, was his father's "favorite travel companion."
David called Jerry an "amazing pilot" that could "fly by the seat of his pants." His passion for flight was perhaps only rivaled by his deep faith in God, said David.
"His last touchdown was in the face of Jesus," said David.
KCRG-TV9 had a chance to meet Jerry Naylor in 2013. At the time, the then 86-year-old was helping a teen fly to Cincinnati for burn treatment at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Jerry had been making those trips for 30 years.
"I have no intention of quitting, til I don't know when," said Jerry in 2013. "But, I'll keep flying."
Son, David Naylor, said his father had been flying since 1945 and still had an active commercial pilot's license at the time of his death.
"He was very active," said David. "He flew about two to three times a week."
David said his father was making a regular local flight Saturday when the plane went down around 4:00 in the afternoon. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration's Des Moines office and the National Transportation Safety Board from Chicago will be conducting an investigation to determine what led to the crash.
Jerry had been flying with his dog who survived the crash. Jerry's son said the Goldendoodle, Jasmine, was his father's "favorite travel companion."
David called Jerry an "amazing pilot" that could "fly by the seat of his pants." His passion for flight was perhaps only rivaled by his deep faith in God, said David.
"His last touchdown was in the face of Jesus," said David.
KCRG-TV9 had a chance to meet Jerry Naylor in 2013. At the time, the then 86-year-old was helping a teen fly to Cincinnati for burn treatment at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Jerry had been making those trips for 30 years.
"I have no intention of quitting, til I don't know when," said Jerry in 2013. "But, I'll keep flying."
Family members confirmed Sunday, 90-year-old Jerry Naylor of Scotch Grove died Saturday afternoon when his small aircraft crashed in a cornfield near the Monticello Regional Airport.
Son, David Naylor, said his father had been flying since 1945 and still had an active commercial pilot's license at the time of his death.
"He was very active," said David. "He flew about two to three times a week."
David said his father was making a regular local flight Saturday when the plane went down around 4:00 in the afternoon. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration's Des Moines office and the National Transportation Safety Board from Chicago will be conducting an investigation to determine what led to the crash.
Jerry had been flying with his dog who survived the crash. Jerry's son said the Goldendoodle, Jasmine, was his father's "favorite travel companion."
David called Jerry an "amazing pilot" that could "fly by the seat of his pants." His passion for flight was perhaps only rivaled by his deep faith in God, said David.
"His last touchdown was in the face of Jesus," said David.
KCRG-TV9 had a chance to meet Jerry Naylor in 2013. At the time, the then 86-year-old was helping a teen fly to Cincinnati for burn treatment at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Jerry had been making those trips for 30 years.
"I have no intention of quitting, til I don't know when," said Jerry in 2013. "But, I'll keep flying."
Son, David Naylor, said his father had been flying since 1945 and still had an active commercial pilot's license at the time of his death.
"He was very active," said David. "He flew about two to three times a week."
David said his father was making a regular local flight Saturday when the plane went down around 4:00 in the afternoon. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration's Des Moines office and the National Transportation Safety Board from Chicago will be conducting an investigation to determine what led to the crash.
Jerry had been flying with his dog who survived the crash. Jerry's son said the Goldendoodle, Jasmine, was his father's "favorite travel companion."
David called Jerry an "amazing pilot" that could "fly by the seat of his pants." His passion for flight was perhaps only rivaled by his deep faith in God, said David.
"His last touchdown was in the face of Jesus," said David.
KCRG-TV9 had a chance to meet Jerry Naylor in 2013. At the time, the then 86-year-old was helping a teen fly to Cincinnati for burn treatment at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Jerry had been making those trips for 30 years.
"I have no intention of quitting, til I don't know when," said Jerry in 2013. "But, I'll keep flying."
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