Victims of Stunt Plane Crash Identified

Friends and family members mourning the loss of a local air show pilot Randal James Gagne said he died doing what he loved most.

Gagne, 42, of Sherman Oaks, and Laura Heide Cayouette, 36, a Southwest Airlines pilot from League City, Texas, were killed when their plane crashed Saturday south of California 126 near Piru, said Ventura County Senior Deputy Coroner Craig Stevens.

Friends said the two took off from Van Nuys Airport, but it was not clear what kind of aerobatic maneuvers they were attempting or who was flying the airplane, a 300 Extra stunt plane made in Germany.

Gagne’s wife, Sheree, contacted Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on Saturday after her husband didn’t return, said Lamar Jackson, a friend of the family.

The wreckage was discovered about 5:15 p.m. Sunday.

Gagne’s mother, Dorothy Bradshaw, said she admired her son for pursuing his lifelong dream of flying.

“My favorite memory was of him knowing so much what he wanted to do and going after it,” she said. “He wanted to fly and nothing was going to stop him.”

Gagne, who owned Attitude Adjusters, an aerobatic flight training school based at Van Nuys Airport, had 20 years of flight experience. His wife said he knew how to fly 186 different types of aircraft, from helicopters to Lear jets.

He was a stunt pilot in several films, including “Primary Colors” and “Ransom,” and television shows such as “Wings” and “Beverly Hills 90210.”

But friends and family said Gagne especially loved teaching students, some of whom came as far away as Japan.

He didn’t turn away those who couldn’t afford his training, Bradshaw said.

“He was the most generous person in the world,” she said. “If people couldn’t afford to take lessons, he took them up anyway.”

His friend and fellow pilot Tom Magglos said Gagne believed he had the best job in the world.

“He just loves it just like I do; it’s the smallest office in the world with the most incredible view,” Magglos said, referring to the plane’s cockpit.

Funeral services are pending.