Ag aviation loses Donald Wayne Goodman

Last year while visiting Ag-Flight, Inc. in Bainbridge, GA., Graham and I met Donald Wayne Goodman of Goodman Flying Service. Donald Wayne was an operator in Chase, Louisiana. I didn’t recall having met Donald Wayne before, but all indications pointed towards Donald Wayne being an upstanding member of our industry. As it turned out, Donald Wayne had donated an AT-301 for Ag-Flight to use in its ag-pilot school. During the short visit with Ag-Flight, we also had the opportunity to meet Donald Wayne’s son, Brandon, who was training to be an ag-pilot. See the November 2009 edition of AgAir Update. I was lucky enough to get Donald Wayne and Billy Howell in front of the camera.

Donald Wayne Goodman (L) and Billy Howell (R) 

stand next to the AT-301 Goodman donated to Ag-Flight, Inc.

On Sunday, May 30th, Donald Wayne succumbed to injuries sustained in a race car accident two days earlier. Just that quick. We (ag-pilots) fly for thousands of hours, under power lines, between trees, low to the ground and then out of the blue God brings you home doing something completely unrelated. We have lost others in similar instances - car and motorcycle wrecks, aerobatics, etc. It doesn’t seem right. 

You can be extremely careful in this profession, mitigating risks; you can take care of yourself, eat right, exercise and visit your doctor. However, you can’t stop the fickle hand of fate. There is no truer cliche: “When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go.”

I didn’t know Donald Wayne Goodman as well as I would have liked. The short time I had with him was good. I have been told he was a strong financial supporter of both LAAA and NAAA. I know he will be missed by his family and friends. My thoughts are with them.