{"id":46710,"date":"2018-08-28T20:43:04","date_gmt":"2018-08-28T20:43:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/28\/massachusetts-army-national-guard-soldier-dies-while-trying-to-spread-fathers-ashes\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:27:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:27:37","slug":"massachusetts-army-national-guard-soldier-dies-while-trying-to-spread-fathers-ashes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/08\/28\/massachusetts-army-national-guard-soldier-dies-while-trying-to-spread-fathers-ashes\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Army National Guard soldier dies while trying to spread father\u2019s ashes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An Army National Guard<\/a> soldier and his brother were trying to sprinkle their father\u2019s ashes when the plane they were flying crashed on takeoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Friday, Massachusetts<\/a> Army National Guardsman Scott Landis was piloting a single-engine plane with his brother, Patrick, the Boston Herald<\/a> reported. The plane\u2019s engine lost power and crashed into a pond, killing Landis and leaving his brother paralyzed from the waist down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 34-year-old soldier and his 29-year-old brother wanted to scatter their father’s ashes after he died from cancer on Aug. 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landis joined the Army in 2001 as an aviation operation specialist and served three active-duty combat tours, according to his obituary<\/a>. He started flying when he was 16 and later became a Black Hawk pilot and instructor in the Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landis, a chief warrant officer, was stationed in Kosovo but was on leave when his father died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His brother, Patrick, suffered a spinal injury and broken bones from the crash, according to a GoFundMe<\/a> campaign set up by his aunt. The fund has raised almost $17,000 so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A GoFundMe<\/a> for Landis’ wife and son was also set up and has raised more than $62,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Massachusetts native was flying an Aeronca 7AC Champion, according to the Boston Herald.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSalt of the earth, a great guy. Scott is just a great guy, always willing to help anybody out, do anything, a gentleman,\u201d Peter Oakley, manager of the Cranland Airport where the plane took off, told the Boston Herald.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our hearts are heavy after learning that Army\/Nat\u2019l Guard CW3 Scott Landis was killed in a plane crash in Hanson on Friday. On behalf of myself, the Sheriff, Police Chiefs & DARE Camp Staff, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the Landis Family. pic.twitter.com\/Di0kXlwtfR<\/a><\/p>— DA Tim Cruz (@PlymouthCtyDAO) August 26, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>