Pilot Killed in Pacoima Plane Crash Was Retired Lockheed Executive

The pilot killed when his small plane crashed Tuesday at Whiteman Air Park in Pacoima was identified as Samuel D. Wright, 62, of Burbank, a retired Lockheed executive and frequent flying companion of Barron Hilton of the hotel family.

Friends, who knew Wright exclusively by his middle name, Dale, said Wednesday that he was on his way to meet Hilton’s personal pilot in Lancaster when his single-engine Cessna Turbo 210 apparently lost power after takeoff and crashed into a large warehouse, setting it afire.

Cause of the crash was under investigation.

During a 42-year career, Wright was Latin American director of sales for the Lockheed California Co.’s L-1011 TriStar and director of the company’s aircraft technical services, company spokesman Bill Spanio said.

Fellow pilots described Wright as a lifelong flying enthusiast and an excellent pilot.

“We’ve done a lot of soaring together and flying and hunting and fishing,” Hilton said. “He was an all-around sportsman and a great human being.”