Mike Maikowski joined the Green River Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol in January 2006, bringing with him the skills of an experienced pilot and air traffic controller. He took no time in getting his Form 5, and even remarked, “That was really fun!” He won the hearts of the cadets with orientation rides and tours of the SeaTac Tower.

 

He mesmerized the seniors with entertaining and enlightening stories collected from his 24 years in the tower, and with a breathtaking slide show of his life long ambition to fly the Alaska coastline. Mike had a warm smile and made our meetings a lot of fun.

 

On Monday morning, November 13, 2006, Mike was doing what he loved most – flying - when something went wrong. Arizona’s Prescott Daily Courier reported,

“A Prescott pilot and a passenger died Monday morning when an experimental/light sport aircraft crashed near Pilots Rest Airstrip in Paulden, about five miles west of Highway 89… witnesses were in the area… they saw the plane flying northwest toward nearby mountains, and as it made a turn, it dove into the ground.”

Friends and family gathered together December 2nd to celebrate Mike’s life. From that inspiring memorial, came the birth of a Perpetual Scholarship Fund to benefit young cadets in the Civil Air Patrol aspiring toward their pilot’s license.

Contributions to this cause are tax deductible and may be sent to CAP, P.O. Box 1292, Kent WA 98035.