Death of Child Pilot, Father Sparks Insurance Fight

The stepmother of child pilot Jessica Dubroff is fighting the girl’s mother in court to gain $1.5 million from her father’s life insurance policies.

Jessica and her father, Lloyd Dubroff, died April 11 when their plane crashed outside Cheyenne, Wyo., as the 7-year-old sought to become the youngest person to fly across the United States. Jessica’s flight instructor, Joe Reid of Half Moon Bay, also was killed.

The crash sparked a national debate and has led to restrictions on children pilots trying to set records.

Court records show that only Jessica’s mother, Lisa Hathaway, has gotten proceeds from three life insurance policies taken out by Lloyd Dubroff.

Jessica’s stepmother, Melinda Dubroff, wants a share of the insurance for herself and her 4-year-old daughter by Dubroff.

In court papers filed Tuesday in San Mateo County Superior Court, Melinda Dubroff asked for all $750,000 in benefits from Lloyd Dubroff’s first policy; half, or $375,000, from his second policy; and half, another $375,000, of his third.

Melinda Dubroff also claims that her husband gave $150,000 in gifts to Hathaway during the four years of their marriage. She wants half of those gifts as part of the community property from the marriage.

She contends that she and Kendall, 4, have received nothing from the policies. But Hathaway contends in court papers that she is legally owed all the money and needs it to support her two surviving children.