Neighbors, friends remember pilot

<b>Ted Thompson of Redlands was a skilled aviator, 'the kind of guy we could rely on in the neighborhood.'</b><br><br>A day after Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the

Tuesday, February 1st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Ted Thompson of Redlands was a skilled aviator, 'the kind of guy we could rely on in the neighborhood.'

A day after Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast near Ventura County, friends of the plane's captain, Ted Thompson, remembered him as a skilled aviator and a friendly presence on his south Redlands street. "He was the kind of guy we could rely on in the neighborhood," said Becky Stone, who has lived across the street from Thompson for more than 10 years.

Redlands Public Works Director Ron Mutter was a neighbor and friend of Thompson for 20 years and said the longtime pilot talked often of his love of flying. Thompson flew C-141 airplanes in the Air Force before retiring and taking a job as an airline pilot 10 years ago.
"It just excited him," Mutter said. "It was a passion for him to fly." Mutter recalled Tuesday a 1997 conversation in which Thompson described his unique view of the Hale-Bopp comet when it was in view. "He said, 'Ron, you should see it from the air at night. It's just spectacular,' " Mutter said. "He loved doing that kind of stuff."

Stone's husband, Greg, served with Thompson in the Air Force Reserve and said that their flight training included a simulation of the kind of engine failure that caused Monday's crash. "I was thinking, 'He can pull this off,' " he said late Monday night. " 'He could handle that plane.' "

Stone called Thompson, "one of the nicest guys and one of the best pilots." He said Thompson made a concentrated effort to remain fit after leaving the Air Force. "He was in really good shape, always going for walks and runs around the neighborhood," Stone said.

Mutter said Thompson would often approach him as he was doing yard work and the two would talk about their families. "He always took an interest in my kids," Mutter said. "He always asked me how my wife was, how my kids were." Thompson was also interested in city politics, Mutter said, and often talked about the actions of the City Council. He flew small planes out of Redlands Municipal Airport for fun, and served on the city's Airport Advisory Commission from 1989-97, Mutter said.

Mutter said he thought briefly of Thompson when news of the crash was first reported, but was later stunned to hear he was on Flight 261. "I said to myself, 'Ted works for Alaska,' and then I didn't think anything more about it," Mutter said. "I considered Ted a friend. My heart goes out to his family."

This list of the crew and passengers aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which crashed off the Southern California coast on Monday was provided by the airline:

Crew: Capt. Ted Thompson, 53, based in Los Angeles; First Officer William Tansky, 57, based in Los Angeles; Allison Shanks, 33, flight attendant, based in Seattle; Craig Pulanco, 30, flight attendant, based in Seattle; Kristin Mills, 26, flight attendant, based in Seattle.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employees:
Sarah Pearson, flight attendant, based in Seattle. Traveling with husband Rodney, daughter Rachel and infant; James J. Ryan, flight attendant, based in Portland, Ore. Traveling with parents and brother: Terry, Bradford and Barbara; Ileana Ost, customer service employee, based in San Francisco. Traveling with husband Bob and infant; Sheri Christensen, 25, Horizon Air ground service agent, based in Seattle; Rachel Janosik, 20, Horizon Air food and beverage agent, based in Seattle; Anjesh Prasad, 19, Horizon Air ground service agent, based in Seattle. Traveling with cousins Avinesh Prasad and Avines Deo' Stacy Schuyler, 20, Horizon Air ground service agent, based in Seattle.

Passengers:
Michael Bernard
Malcolm Barnson
William Bryant
Ryan Busche
Abigail Busche
Jacqu Choate
Toni Choate
Carolyn Clemetson and infant
David Clemetson
Blake Clemetson
Miles Clemetson
Coria Clemetson
John Cuthbertson
Dean Forshee
Jerri Fosmire
Allen Friedmann
Jean Gandesbery
Robert Gandesbery
Megan Hall (traveling with Horizon Air employee Rachel Janosik)
Aloysuis Han
Robert Hovey
Russel Ing
Karl Karlsson
Carol Karlsson
Joseph Knight
Linda Knight
William Knudson
Ronald Lake
Joyce Lake
Bradley Long
James Luque
Juan Marquez
Cynthia Oti
Deborah Penna
Jean Permison
Stanford Poll
Charles Russel
Ellen Salyer
Donald Shaw
Charlene Sipe
Joan Smith
Ryan Sparks (traveling with Horizon Air employee Rachel Janosik)
Perry Stasinos
Thomas Stockley
Margaret Stockley
Janice Stokes
Morris Thompson
Thelma Thompson
Shery Thompson
Robert Thorgrimson
Nina Voronoff
Colleen Whorley
Steve Wilkie
Bob Williams
Patty Williams
Published 2/1/2000