Brookfield Resident Dies in Plane Crash

The former president of Sikorsky Aircraft, and a Brookfield, CT man were killed in a plane crash this past Friday. The men were aboard a World War 2 era P-51 Mustang fighter plane owned by Pino which crashed near the town of Maricopa, Arizona. The victims are identified as Jeff Pino, 61, and Nickolas Tramontano, 72, of Brookfield, who was known fondly as “the mayor of Oxford Airport.”

Jeff Pino was the president of Sikorsky from 2006-2012. The Brookfield Patch said current Sikorsy president Dan Schultz released this statement: “The Sikorsky family is saddened to learn of the sudden loss of former President Jeff Pino. We extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers of sympathy and support to his family and friends during this difficult time. During his six years as President of Sikorsky, Jeff brought personal energy and passion for aviation innovation to our industry. It was during his time leading Sikorsky that the company first flew the X2 Technology™ demonstrator. We remember Jeff as a leader, pioneer, innovator and advocate. May his family be comforted by the lasting impression and legacy Jeff has left behind.”  At the time of his death, Pino was the vice chairman of XTI Aircraft in Colorado.

XTI founder and chairman, David Brody, said in a statement on XTI's website, “As the former President of Sikorsky Aircraft, Jeff was a true leader, pioneer and industry legend. As the Vice Chairman of XTI Aircraft Company, Jeff was a brilliant strategist, visionary and expert in all things aviation. As our friend, he was all of that and so much more,”

According to the Danbury News-Times, Tramontano was known for his love of World War 2 fighter planes and taught others to fly them.  Kari Sorenson of Danbury who worked with Tramontano at Danbury Municipal Airport for 15 years, “To lose Nick is to lose a piece of history and a piece of the flying world, as well as family,”

He mainly worked out of Waterbury Oxford Airport and loved chatting with other pilots about restoring old aircrafts. “If you wanted to know anything about aviation, he was certainly the person to speak with,” Sorenson said. “He was an amazing pilot and an amazing mechanic. He could basically fly anything with wings.”

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