By PAM KRAGEN | The San Diego Union-Tribune | Published: May 6, 2021
SAN DIEGO (Tribune News Service) — Among San Diego aviation buffs, Leo Leonard will always be remembered as a co-founder of PSA, the spunky San Diego-born Pacific Southwest Airlines that flew the California skies from 1949 to 1987. But until his dying day, the 101-year-old San Diego resident was hoping to rewrite the history of how some of the pilots he hired during the company’s glory days are remembered.
The World War II veteran died peacefully from natural causes Monday at his home in the Del Cerro neighborhood. Ann Leonard, his wife of 75 years, was by his side. In an interview at his home just three weeks before his death, Leonard said he wanted to honor the 144 lives lost in the Sept. 25, 1978, crash of PSA Flight 182. But his dying wish was to clear the name of Capt. James McFeron, who federal investigators found responsible for the fiery accident, which occurred when the 727 jetliner collided with a Cessna airplane during its final descent over North Park to San Diego International Airport.