Stephen Lassetter, retired president and COO of Sun Air Jets in Camarillo, Calif., died in the crash of a Piper PA-28 in the San Gabriel Mountains near San Antonio Heights, Calif., before dawn on November 22. Lassetter, 66, held many positions in business aviation charter, aircraft management and FBO management since earning his private pilot certificate in 1975. At the time of his death he was said to be working on his commercial pilot certificate, with plans to become a flight instructor.

After working in marketing at an air charter company flying Learjets and King Airs, Lassetter was hired by charter operator Jet Fleet and then moved to AMR Combs, spending two years (1998 to 2000) as COO and developer of Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre. He then returned stateside to run the Signature FBO at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta. After that, he moved west to Sun Air Jets in Camarillo, Calif.

Lassetter is survived by his wife, Suellen; mother Gloria, of Dallas; and sister Nancy, of Vail, Colo. He is preceded in death by his father, Roger; sister Tracey; and brother Scott.