A Disney Imagineer was killed in a plane crash on Sunday. 55 year old Scott Frazier Watson was piloting a small plane when it crashed into a field along 5 Freeway in Sylmar – a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.
Watson was pronounced dead at the scene. It has been reported that motorists driving on the 5 Freeway pulled off to the side of the road and ran down to try and help the pilot before emergency services arrived. The crash was visible from the freeway, slowing traffic to a crawl.
The father of three, he had has his pilot license for 15 to 20 years according to his daughter. He was reported flying home to the Van Nuys Airport after a weekend away. Known by his family as a “computer genius,” Watson worked his way up the ranks at Disney to the role of Head of Technology. According to his family he was responsible for programming rides at Disney parks around the world.
Disney Imagineering President, Bob Weis released a statement saying “The Walt Disney Company is stunned and saddened by the loss of our long-time friend and colleague, Scott Watson. Those of us who worked with Scott during his nearly 30-year career at Disney knew him as a humble genius who made making magic look easy. Our hearts are with his family during this difficult time.”
While Watson did make a mayday call before his plane went down, the cause of the crash is unknown.
FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials were on scene Monday looking through the plane’s wreckage.
Source: CBS Los Angeles and ABC 7
Photo Credit: CBS
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