John, 39, died June 18, 1986, when the Grand Canyon tour helicopter that he was piloting was hit from above by a Twin Otter also carrying tourists. Twenty-five people died as a result of the collision. He was born September 13, 1946, in Evanston, Illinois.

John had become a smokejumper after serving as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

He jumped at Boise during the 1976-77 seasons.