Pilot Killed In Crop Duster Crash Identified

June 16, 2020

The pilot was killed when a crop duster plane crashed north of Atmore Tuesday morning.

Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson has identified the victim as Eddie Gideons, a well-loved member of the local community.

“Escambia County lost a good man today,” Jackson said.

The plane went down off  Gideons Lake Road off Atmosphere Road. That’s just north of I-65 near the Poarch/Jacks Springs Road Exit.

It crashed about 7:30 a.m. in a brushy area near a gravel lake.. The accident scene was just behind a lake house in an area Jackson said was initially difficult to reach.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the initial death investigation. The FAA is responding to investigate the cause of the crash.

There was no one else on board the single engine aircraft.

NorthEscambia.com photos.

Comments

19 Responses to “Pilot Killed In Crop Duster Crash Identified”

  1. Craig Ramsey on September 15th, 2020 2:21 pm

    Eddie helped us with several crop dusting studies with MagGrow about 10 years ago. He was a fantastic pilot, and he will be sorely missed. God Bless you Eddie and may He comfort his family and friends.

  2. John McCammack on September 13th, 2020 1:35 am

    It was sad to hear about the death of Eddie. He was a good man and a friend. He helped us do serval studies for MagGrow in coordination with the USDA and the University of Florida extension in Milton. He was fun to work with and was very talented. We did spraying with our technology using his Grumman and his Airtractor 402 several years ago.
    My prayers go out to his family and friends. God bless

  3. Southern girl on June 18th, 2020 8:21 pm

    It saddened me when I read this. My heart goes out to his family. My son and I watched him over the farm field by the Tom Thumb at 97 and 29. He was so talented. After he finishes spraying that field he gave everyone out watching him an air show that was unbelievable. He flew about 40 more minutes. I was looking forward to watching him again this year. Fly high young man!!!

  4. sandy stadt on June 17th, 2020 5:18 pm

    I’m Praying God puts his comforting arms around this family at this time of great loss.

  5. jerry cochran on June 17th, 2020 11:59 am

    So very sorry about Eddie. Johnnie Taylor and I visited with him about two weeks ago. His death is hard to take. I asked God to bless him and his family.

  6. A Alex on June 17th, 2020 8:23 am

    If it was the yellow plane I have an unbelievable pic of it over the field across the street. Will send if family would want it. Please let us know

  7. j on June 17th, 2020 1:16 am

    i will miss watching him…god bless his family.. escambia really has lost a good man…

  8. mick on June 16th, 2020 7:56 pm

    Bless his soul Father, in Jesus’s name…seen him many many times buzzing the fields, always liked seeing the Ag pilots in the sky…rest in peace…condolences to his family and friends.

  9. Ann Holloway on June 16th, 2020 7:28 pm

    I am so sorry for Mr. Gideon, family and friendship! Prayers for you all!

  10. Tanner Leatherwood on June 16th, 2020 7:21 pm

    Sorry to hear about Eddie, my sympathies and prayers are sent your way.
    Going to miss seeing that plane fly over head.

  11. Roy Forrest on June 16th, 2020 6:49 pm

    Unfortunately I didn’t know this man personally but have seen him for some 14 years flying fields around here and it truly saddens me that another pilot has died in a crash. My heart and prayers go out to all his family and friends. God Bless you all and God Speed to him.

  12. Julia Holland on June 16th, 2020 6:20 pm

    Is that his house pictured. I he

    ard he had a lakefront home

  13. Janice LeCocq on June 16th, 2020 5:54 pm

    So tragic! I recently watched him fly and have some videos if the family is interested. He was a talented pilot in a notoriously dangerous job. So sad. My sympathy and prayers for his friends and family.

  14. Michael Hancock on June 16th, 2020 4:15 pm

    God bless this pilot’s family, always hate reading a story like this

  15. So sad on June 16th, 2020 4:00 pm

    Omg I’m shocked.i admired his flying all the time.he was a great pilot.i was fishing a few weeks ago an he was flying so low over the river an we said wow what a good pilot.god be with his family at this sad time

  16. A Alex on June 16th, 2020 1:53 pm

    I pray it wasn’t the yellow one

  17. Jesse L Manning on June 16th, 2020 1:37 pm

    Rest in peace Eddie, my thoughts and prayers are for your family and loved ones. JM

  18. Amy on June 16th, 2020 10:49 am

    Prayers being said for the pilot. I see the bright yellow crop duster flying over my house in Molino spraying fields close by. Such a talent and top knotch flying skills. Hope all is okay.

  19. Susan E Smith on June 16th, 2020 10:36 am

    Please pray for this family! They are friends and need our support with prayer.