[GreenHornet]

79 seems old to me for a flight instructor. At some point the trade-off between experience and failing faculties begins to look like a losing proposition.

I thought the same thing. I mean no disrespect to the deceased, but at some point, I would question whether or not it's wise for someone to continue to function as a flight instructor (or pilot).

[bill1952]

79 does seems quite old, doesn't it?

I was going to say that he must have been okay with his physicals, but then I remembered that a CFI doesn't need one to right seat.