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Authorities identify Lake Havasu pilot

STAFF REPORTS
Monday, September 29, 2008 11:03 PM MST

The name of a Lake Havasu City man killed Sunday after his single-engine plane crashed into a hillside less than a mile from McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif., has been released.

Guisseppe “Pino” Puzzo, 41, of Lake Havasu City, was killed when the Beechcraft BE36 Bonanza he was flying crashed while he was attempting to circle the airport for landing.

Puzzo had missed his initial landing approach and told air traffic controllers he was going to circle around for another landing.

The crash occurred at 7:19 a.m. The plane was destroyed by fire.

Puzzo departed from Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport at 6:13 a.m. Mountain Standard Time for a one-hour and eight-minute flight to Carlsbad.

Weather conditions were foggy at the time of the crash, but investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have not said whether they played a factor in the crash.

Puzzo had been working as a pilot for Statewide Express, a transportation company out of Lake Havasu City.

Puzzo was also once employed by Lake Havasu City as an Information Technology Specialist. He worked for the city from 1999-2000.

Puzzo’s wife, Dawn, works in the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

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Reader Comments

lucio wrote on Nov 5, 2008 3:26 AM:

" Ciao Pino, ho saputo la triste notizia ...da amici in paese...anche se erano anni che non ci vedavamo mi chiedevo come stavi in america...

Mi unisco al dolore dei tuoi famigliari...
ciao "

Lorenzo wrote on Oct 15, 2008 1:17 PM:

" Ciao Pino, i tuoi colleghi di Telecomitalia ti ricorderanno sempre con affetto e tanta simpatia. Una preghiera x te e sentite condoglianze alla tua famiglia. "

lynn wrote on Oct 7, 2008 12:53 PM:

" Dawn, deepest sympathies and condolances in your time of sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Lynn "

CornCo Excavation wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:17 AM:

" Dawn and Family:
Our thoughts and prayers our with you and your family, Pino was a wonderful person, always so kind and willing to help when we needed him. We all will miss him and he will always be in our hearts and you and you family in our prayers! Anne, Jeff, David, Kathy and all of the crew "

Heather wrote on Oct 3, 2008 3:21 AM:

" Dawn and family..
You are in our constant prayers. I am truely sorry for your loss. Pino was a wonderful man and he touched so many. He was always so helpful. We had just spoke a few days before the crash. He was so excited about flying for 1000 hours. It was a passion. He went doing what he loved. May God give comfort during this time to all who are grieving. Pino will be missed and will be held in the hearts of many forever. "

X-Resident wrote on Oct 2, 2008 10:12 AM:

" I did not know Pino but by the comments here and on the other article he must have been an incredible person. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family in their time of loss. "

Johnny wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:46 PM:

" My thoughts and prayers are with you. He was a great man and will be missed! I spent a lot of time with him when I was younger and will never forget him. "

Karen Lowry from Western Alarm wrote on Oct 1, 2008 5:21 PM:

" Dawn our hearts and prayers go out to you. Pino was an exceptional computer expert along with being a wonderful person. We will never find anyone who will be able to fix our problems and understand our "crazy" ways as he always seemed to. He was amazing at everything he did. He will be greatly missed. "

ACS Products Co. wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:43 AM:

" Pino.....
Keep an eye out for us,as N42823 prepares for it's next take-off. We will be sure to fly the orange colors for you.
Thank you for all your encouragement and support. You will be missed tremendously, but never forgotten.
God Bless You....... "

Bryan Cyndi Chinarian wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:57 AM:

" Dawn:
We will miss him greatly. He was a still is a good friend that we won't forget. Dawn, as I told you the other night, God needed a Pilot and he got a good one...We love you both and you are in our prayers. "

Don and Alice Pietig wrote on Oct 1, 2008 2:59 AM:

" Still in shock and disbelieve. What a great tragedy.
Pino, rest in peace my friend, you will be greatly missed by many! To Dawn, what can we say? We are so very sorry for your loss, our hearts ache for you and your families. Just know that you are in our prayers everyday. May God be with you through this most difficult time. "

Kriston Delhommer wrote on Sep 30, 2008 8:20 PM:

" To Dawn, I have said many prayers for you and your family and am very sad for your loss. I knew Pino so briefly, but count myself fortunate for the inroduction. I just remember he never stopped smiling, not for a minute. He introduced to me to Luca who has been a great friend, and I'm sure with his help, you and your family will make it through these very tough times. I will continue to pray for Pino, for Luca, and for you. God Bless. "

Jason wrote on Sep 30, 2008 4:30 PM:

" The older we get the more people we meet and, unforunately, they pass sometimes suddenly and too early.
I worked with Pino back in 1999 and enjoyed being given the opportunity to have known him.
I now have tragicly lost two friends this year from my life back then in LHC.
To all of the rest of you, be careful, stay healthy, and God bless.
Rudders down Pino, it's a smooth flight from here on out. "

Marti Mike Layne wrote on Sep 30, 2008 3:41 PM:

" We were lucky enough to meet Pino and Dawn through friends, Vince and Lynda Goodrow. We spend many great times at dinner, and will never forget our "Soprano" nights! Pino would translate the Italian phrases uttered during the show. He was full of laughter and smiles at those times. Our prayers go up in love for Dawn and all his family. "

Lauren Weber Family wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:10 PM:

" Still shocking to believe that such a great man will no longer be with us. He will be missed every day. Our hearts and prayers go out to Dawnski at this sad time. "

Ed and Vina wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:31 PM:

" We were very fortunate to have known
and worked with Pino. He will be missed
but never forgotten at the Flagstaff
office. Our thoughts and prayers go out
to Dawn and his family "

CAROL EISENHART wrote on Sep 30, 2008 12:10 PM:

" Even though we now live in vegas, we always talk about Pino and Dawn, with fond memories, please tell Dawn she will be in my thoughts and prayers "

tommy wrote on Sep 30, 2008 9:58 AM:

" a great man who will be greatly missed, thoughts go out to dawn, "

Tina L Edwards wrote on Sep 30, 2008 9:23 AM:

" Our family is in shock and disbelief.
My brother in law was full of life and lived everyday as every moment. I know there is no other way he would have rather gone than doing what he loved. He was so successful in everything he did and did it all well. We love you so much and will miss you, but keep you in our hearts forever. Good bye from the "Sister" T, Jas,Tyler,Alex,Justin, and Sedona too(Hannah Montanna will never be the same) "

Friend wrote on Sep 30, 2008 7:43 AM:

" He will be missed by all...You are in our prayers "

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