The staff at the United States Ultralight Association regretfully and with great sadness reports that Richard A. Pendergist, Executive Vice President of USUA, died in an ultralight accident on Saturday, October 18th, 2003. Details surrounding the accident are unknown at this time.

October 19, 2003

From Jon Thornburgh,
USUA AFI

I just learned from the USUA web site that Executive Vice President Rich Pendergist was killed yesterday in an ultralight accident.

I cannot express how deeply shocked and saddened I am by this news. I spoke to Rich only a two days ago. It's unbelievable that he is not here today.

Rich was a tremendous asset to USUA. We had developed a close relationship, and we often discussed possible solutions to the many challenges facing USUA and the ultralight community. Due to the three-hour time zone difference between the East and West Coast, these discussions usually took place when Rich remained at USUA headquarters after closing hours. I was always amazed how often Rich would stay in the office until eight or nine o'clock at night. Few people know how deeply dedicated Rich was to his job and USUA.

Although Rich assumed the position of USUA Executive Vice President a relatively short time ago, he accomplished much. He revitalized the USUA membership. He established a dialogue with the FAA so that USUA could prepare for the impending Sport Pilot initiative. He created the Ultralight Ground Instructor Program for single-seat ultralights, which will continue after Sport Pilot is adopted. With the help of noted instructor Bud Gish, Rich established a Powered Parachute program for USUA.

Rich was the force behind a multitude of innovations in the USUA instructor program. USUA now provides for ASC and EAA instructors to transition to USUA, with credit given for their prior experience. USUA increased the number of AFI seminars, and now allows eligible BFIs to become AFIs after attending a one-on-one seminar, without waiting for the formal classroom schedule. A BFI is eligible to become an AFI after training three BFI candidates, instead of five.

Rich was enthusiastically working with me on a project to introduce high school youth to flying, in order to foster their self-esteem and help them resist negative peer pressure to experiment with drugs or become truant. The program is tentatively called "Youth Excellence Through Aviation."

Rich was following up on USUA's request to the FAA for a waiver to allow commercial instruction in experimental trikes so that students can obtain their FAA pilot certificate under the "Glider-Trike" Program, founded by myself and former USUA President John Ballantyne.

Along with Carol Plotnick and Web Master Bob Comperini, Rich expanded and enhanced the USUA web site. The site now included biographies of USUA personnel, a summary of USUA programs and benefits, and up-to-the-minute news. Through the web site, forms are now available for membership applications, BFI tests, renewals, and instructional documents.

Rich was tirelessly working with aviation insurance companies to re-establish ultralight insurance. Just last week he happily confided in me that he thought that he would soon be able to announce a comprehensive insurance package for both ultralight and experimental aircraft pilots. If Rich succeeded in solving the severe insurance crisis it will be a tremendous legacy.

In addition to his Executive duties at USUA, Rich still found time to fly and instruct. The last words he said to me was that he was anxious to fly during the weekend and that he was looking forward to the joy of being in the air.

Not only was Rich an aviation colleague, he was a great friend. His sudden and tragic death will impact us all. Our only consolation is that Rich's last moments were in the air, doing what he loved so much.