Reedley College Grounds Aviation Classes in Memory of Fallen Instructor

On Tuesday, the hum of engines that usually fills Reedley College’s small aviation hangar fell silent. The college’s flight program, home to just 24 eager pilots‑in‑training, suspended all activities to mourn the loss of Danna Eady, a certified flight instructor who died with her family in a crash over the weekend.

For many of the students, Eady was more than a teacher; she was the person who sat beside them on their first solo flights, offered a steady hand on the yoke, and shared stories that sparked a lifelong love of the skies. “We’re still shocked by it. We still can’t believe it happened,” said fellow instructor Jaime Luque, his voice barely above a whisper as he looked at the parked aircraft.

Luque described the emotional weight of walking past the planes now. “It’s hard to look at the airplanes and think about all the memories we shared. It’s hard to walk into the office knowing nothing will be the same.” The sentiment was echoed by administrators who remembered Eady’s tireless devotion.

Reedley College President Dr. Buckley recounted how Eady would rise before dawn, ferrying students from the airport at four or five in the morning, then head off on her own flights. “She talked about a ‘flight gene’ – that once you’ve been up there, you just know you belong,” he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the grief.

The day before the tragedy, Eady had presided over a pinning ceremony, celebrating her students’ progress. As the only female instructor in the program at the time, she served as both mentor and role model, especially to the handful of women learning to fly under her wing.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Luque has faced such loss. “It never gets easy. It’s always a shock to the system,” he admitted, his words underscoring how tightly knit the aviation community can be.

Reedley College is one of just 23 California community colleges that offer a flight‑training pathway, a relatively affordable route for those dreaming of a piloting career. While the crash casts a shadow, Buckley urged students to keep their aspirations aloft. “The frequency of this kind of accident is very, very small. If you truly love flying, stay the course,” he encouraged.

Classes will resume next week, but the memory of Danna Eady will linger in every pre‑flight check, every runway walk‑through, and every student who once felt the rush of her encouragement.