Plane Crash Widower: World Will Not Be as Good a Place Without Her

Joe Combs says he has lost the love of his life.

Joy Gorian, 78, was killed after the plane she was riding in as a passenger crashed into a parking lot Wednesday between the Kearny Mesa Costco and Target stores.

The fixed wing single-engine Mooney M20L crashed in a parking lot off Convoy Street about a mile from Montgomery Field.

The investigation into what happened in the minutes before the crash could take months. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft bounced while attempting to land.

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The plane was piloted by Gorian's daughter Devon Logan, 52, who used the radio to send a distress call.

“Problem now. I’m not getting any altitude here,” she told the tower.

The tower advised full throttle and for the pilot to return to the airport if possible.

“I’m going down,” Logan responded.

With that, the planes right wing scraped the top of the Target and crashed into a light pole before hitting the ground.

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Combs says his wife and step daughter were returning from a trip to Redlands. Joy was seeking to acquire power of attorney to help her ailing sister.

Combs says he didn’t get to the hospital in time to see her before she died. But he recalled his last conversation with his wife.

“I went over and kissed her and said ‘goodbye honey, I hope you have a good day.’ And that’s the last time I saw her alive,” said Combs.

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In the hospital he also talked to pilot Logan, who is his step daughter. She suffered multiple broken bones, including a shattered left wrist, right ankle, broken knees and will need plastic surgery to repair facial wounds, according to Combs. All she said about the accident was that the plane lost power, according to Combs. 

“She was feeling guilty for her mother dying. I told her, Devon, things happen. You loved your mother. Your mother loved you. She’s the most wonderful woman in the world, and this world will not be as good a place today as it was yesterday when she was here,” said Combs.

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According to Combs, Gorian is also survived by three sisters, two children, four step children, 12 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

“She’s an adorable, caring person and I’m going to miss her. I do miss her,” said Combs.

The couple met in 1973 and were married in 1986. Gorian was active in the Unitarian Universalist Church and worked at a public library.

“She’s the most wonderful woman in the world. The world is not going to be as well off without her,” said Combs.