2 Utahns killed in small plane crash in California

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HIGHLAND — Two Utahns were killed last Friday in a small airplane crash in California.

JetBlue pilot Vaughn Porter, 54, was flying a Beechcraft A-36 airplane with his girlfriend Jamie Redford Rust, 52, near Covelo, California, on Oct. 20 when the plane crashed, killing them both. The two were flying to Shelter Cove for a trip and had departed from the Heber Valley Airport earlier in the day.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, but no details on what caused the crash have been released.

Their families did not hear from Porter or Rust on Saturday, started calling around and learned of the plane crash Saturday evening. Porter's children said he was an experienced and safe pilot.

"Our dad, Vaughn, was our hero — a perfect example of what a father should be. When he wasn't busy working hard and providing, he devoted every moment to his family, making us his top priority," states a GoFundMe* page set up to help cover Porter's funeral expenses.

According to the fundraiser, the Porter family lost their mother in January 2022 and Porter stepped up to "fill the gaping hole left in our family without her." Porter's children said Rust had also stepped in as a motherly figure for them.

"Despite this incomprehensible tragedy, he remained positive, always seeking ways to bring joy and togetherness to our lives. He was the heart of our family, and we're now at a complete loss without him," the webpage says.

The fundraiser was organized by Porter's son Shaun Porter and states the family is struggling to cover funeral costs and transporting the body to Utah to bury him alongside their mother. Porter leaves behind four children.

A GoFundMe* for Rust said she has three children — two sons serving church missions, and a daughter who is married and has two of her own children.

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.