Matthew Miller was born in Salem, Oregon on March 5, 1973. After graduating high school, Matt attended Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana where he obtained a Bachelors of Aeronautical Science degree with a minor in business administration specializing in mathematics. He was a flight team captain with the National Intercollegiate Flying Association during his college years. He moved to Mesa, Arizona in October 1996 to be a flight instructor with Superstition Air Service (SAS) which later became Falcon Executive Aviation Inc in June 1999.
Matt’s personal and work family were very important to him. He was very dedicated and cared deeply for his wife Jacqy, aunts, cousins, and stepchildren. He would always rise to the occasion when asked for help. Matt had a knack for recognizing when Jacqy needed a break and he would take her to the forest. Matt and Jacqy loved to hike the Salt River area on the Tonto National Forest. Matt had many gifts, one being that he could make you feel calm and at ease. Jacqy is scared of flying but she was never afraid when she was with him.
Matt loved teaching students and held multiple positions in the flight school as well as within the 135 charter operations to include: Chief Flight Instructor (gold seal), advanced ground instructor, Flight school manager, 135-line pilot, company check airman, safety officer, USFS air attack pilot, USFS air attack pilot instructor, FAA designated pilot examiner. He holds a master CFI through the national association of flight instructors.
Matt has trained thousands as well as issued licenses to hundreds as an FAA designated pilot examiner. He has natural talent for flying that he pursued with all his heart. He truly loved every aspect of the industry. His students and coworkers reiterated the sentiment that his knowledge, skill and overall presence was one that made flight something they could love. He was always available 24/7 to answers questions, texts and calls from students and professionals alike.
His love of flying USFS air attack missions was evident whenever you saw him on duty. His knowledge of Forest Service policies and procedures, tactics, fire behavior, and aircraft was at the highest levels. He was a walking aviation encyclopedia.
Matt is survived by his wife Jacqy, and his two step-children, Ammon and Verity. Matt will be sorely missed by these loved ones and countless others whose lives he touched.
To attend services virtually, please follow the link below. This link will become available at 9:45am – 15 minutes before the service begins.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83131211603?pwd=UWxnQURwWkdsOUk5UDBzSFluTi9IZz09
Meeting ID: 831 3121 1603
Passcode: 890197
I knew Matt a long time. I saw Matt at safety meetings and some flight instructor meetings. Matt also did my last several IPC’s.. My heart is broken he’s gone..He was a kind person, a great pilot and teacher and he will be missed by a lot of people. Although I didn’t see Matt often, we emailed at times during the year. I am still in shock and will be for a long time.
Jacque and Family, I am so very sad to hear of your tragic loss! I was Matt’s step mother for a brief period of 8 months and 16 days at the time Matt’s father died suddenly in May of 1988. Matt was living with us at the time. My two sons, Yosha and Yurii were also a part of our household! After the death of Matt’s father we lost track of Matt as he went to live with his mother. In my grief I struggled again as a single parent raising my two sons and had little energy for much else. Recently, I had a sense of wanting to see if I could locate Matt after so many years had passed. I remembered his uncle Bill from Glendive, MT and contacted him to see if he knew how to locate Matt. I was so sorry to hear the tragic news of his sudden recent death. I grieve that I didn’t reach out before it was too late to see him before this tragedy! I want you to know that he had a very special, even if it was brief, place in my life, during a very difficult time in our lives!!! He touched my heart deeply! It would be great to connect with you sometime, sending my thoughts and prayers, Mariann (Miller) Witthar