'He loved flying.' Family remembers Panama City's Dylan Horn after helicopter crash

PANAMA CITY — There are many ways one could describe Dylan Horn, as his family points out.

From his knowledge of all things Star Wars to the way he’d light up a room with his laughter, the Panama City man had an immense impact on both loved ones and acquaintances.

“Dylan was the most dynamic young man you could ever meet,” Lori Rivero, Horn’s mother, said within an emailed statement. “He had a heart of gold and would go out of his way to help someone, anyone.”

Horn was killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 14 in South LaFourche Parish, Louisiana.

He was 30.

LaFourche Parish authorities were notified of the crash before noon by a resident who reported seeing the aircraft lose altitude and then saw a "big splash of mud," Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson said during a news conference Jan. 14. Dana Burt of Kaplan, 51, of Louisiana, was also killed in the accident.

Original story: Panama City man dies after helicopter crash in Louisiana

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Rivero said she never thought she would receive a call that she had lost her child.

“I lost my sweet boy, my firstborn,” Rivero said. “I don't know how we will move through this process of grief, but I will do my best to keep his silly videos and his fun pictures close whenever I want to smile.”

Despite turning 30 years old barely a month before the crash, his family said Horn had lived an eventful life.

Horn’s history

Horn was born Dec. 28 in England, said Jeremy Horn, Dylan’s father. Since he was a U.S. Air Force pilot, the family had moved around quite a bit. Dylan Horn ended up graduating high school in Colorado before joining the Army.

Rivero said her son was inspired by his grandfather to join the Army.

“Dylan has always been determined to accomplish his goals and dreams, no matter what,” Rivero said. “He never stopped. He told me he wanted to follow in his papa's footsteps and join the Army to be in Armor; he did just that.”

Starting off as an M1 Abrams tank driver, Horn spent a year in South Korea guarding the demilitarized zone and exploring Seoul. However, Jeremy Horn said his true passion was to become a helicopter pilot.

“It's funny because he didn't get his driver's license until he was almost 18, but for some reason just had a natural aptitude to flying,” Jeremy Horn said. “And even though I was a pilot my entire adult life, I never pushed him. There was no expectation that he would be a pilot. He just really discovered it on his own and figured out how to make it happen.”

After he left the Army as a sergeant, Jeremy Horn said his son decided to chase his dream of becoming a helicopter pilot by using his GI Bill to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.

“After two years, he'd actually worked as well with being an instructor and then spent his junior and senior years instructing other students,” he said. “He built up a lot of hours, but also built a lot of good relationships and some experience there. Then there was no question to him that he was going to go on to professional aviation.”

Rivero said she remembers being one of her son's passengers and watching him as a pilot.

“We had the pleasure of flying with Dylan, and we know he cared for his passengers' comfort and safety,” Rivero said. “He was an outstanding pilot, and he loved being a pilot. He loved flying, he loved everything about it.”

Following his graduation, Dylan Horn went to work in Northwest Florida, flying along the shores of Destin and Panama City Beach. Jeremy said his son loved the Panama City area, especially when flying beside the beach.

He later accepted an opportunity with RLC, flying from Louisiana in support of oil rigs.

Horn’s Legacy

Dylan Horn's personality was one for the books, his family said, especially his love for all things “nerdy."

“This is a kid who in his late twenties would go to Disneyland or Disney World wearing a Boba Fett helmet or would wear a Chewbacca onesie on a ski slope,” Jeremy Horn said. “He had his tattoos that were all Star Wars, he just never outgrew the enjoyment that it gave him when he was a kid.”

Rivero echoed his love for the sci-fi series, adding that he’d include the family in on it.

“He loved building Lego sets, all Star Wars of course,” Rivero said. “He would text us after each Mandalorian episode to talk about all of the epic details.”

His family mentioned his strong ties to all of his family members and friends, saying his family and goals were important to him.

“Dylan loved his family, loved his career as a helicopter pilot,” Rivero said. “He made friends wherever he went and we could not be prouder.”

Rivero said she loves and misses her son dearly.

“Heaven gained an angel too early,” Rivero said. “We love Dylan so dearly and so did everyone that had an opportunity to meet him.”

Jeremy Horn said he wants to remind others that his son was an amazing pilot, as well as an amazing person and son. He is grateful Dylan Horn found his calling in life and was able to do it.

“He was just passionate about what he did and flying became really a huge part of who he was,” Jeremy Horn said. “The fact that he ended his life doing what he absolutely loved to do, it gives us a little bit of comfort and that's probably the best any of us can hope for is that you get to do what your passion is.”

Two GoFundMe’s have been set up in Dylan Horn’s honor:

One has been set up for Horn’s son, Alex, who turned 1 year old just days before the crash. To read the complete story and donate, visit gofundme.com/f/dylan-horn-memorial-fund

The other, called “Dylan Horn Fan Club Scholarship Fund,” promises to help someone else make their dream to fly helicopters a reality as Dylan did. To learn more and donate, visit gofundme.com/f/dylan-horn-fan-club-scholarship-fund

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City man Dylan Horn killed in helicopter crashed remembered