Gideon v. Service Life & Casualty Insurance Co.

OPINION

YOUNG, Justice.

The controlling question in this case is: Was the pilot of a private aircraft at the time of his death “riding in” the aircraft within the meaning of an exclusionary clause of a credit life insurance policy ? If he was “riding in” the aircraft, his widow is not entitled to recover the insurance proceeds. If he was not, she is.

Yvonne Gideon, as surviving widow of Johnny G. Gideon, sued Service Life and Casualty Insurance Company for payment of proceeds she alleged were due her by reason of the death of her husband. Upon an agreed statement of facts the trial court granted…