On the morning of June 18, 2002, Scott perished doing what he loved: practicing aerobatics in a Yak-52, in the mountains of Brentwood, Calif. He had recently been working to advance his aerobatic skills, and placed 13th among 19 pilots in his first competition, at Paso Robles, the weekend of June 8. He had also flown aerobatics in Citabrias and recently checked out in the Pitts Special.

The Yak, N644LL, belonged to a friend of Scott's, Melinda Whiteway of Walnut Creek, and he had flown it many times. He also owned his own Bonanza and was part owner of a Baron with his father. The family airplanes are based at Concord, Calif., and Boeing Field, in Seattle.

Scott graduated from Queen Anne High School in Seattle, Wash., where he excelled in sports and academics. He graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Yale University in 1978, earning a degree in history. He graduated from Stanford University's law school in 1981, and practiced law in the San Francisco area. He was a member of the NTSB Bar Association, AOPA, NAFI, and EAA.

He is survived by a daughter, Stephanie Frances Puddy (and her mother, Marcia Waitt), in Sioux City, Iowa; his parents, LaVern and Frances M. Puddy, of Seattle, Wash.; sisters Lisa , Linda, and Paige; six nieces and nephews; and many friends.

A memorial gathering was held at his home in Pleasant Hill, Calif., on Saturday afternoon, June 22. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Saturday, June 29.