A stunt pilot who contributed to the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick has resolved a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a woman who tragically drowned when an all-terrain vehicle careened over a cliff during his Burning Man-inspired beach gathering in California.
Details of the Settlement Agreement
Jonathan Spano, the 48-year-old CEO of Traffic Management, reached a confidential agreement with the family of Tanya Hendry on February 17, coinciding with the scheduled start of jury selection in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. Court documents reveal that the settlement encompassed the complete $5 million limit of an insurance policy provided by Scottsdale Insurance, supplemented by an undisclosed personal payment from Spano himself.
The Fatal Incident and Party Circumstances
Tanya Hendry, aged 34, lost her life in the early hours of December 21, 2020, after an ATV transporting four individuals drove off a coastal bluff adjacent to Harmony Headlands State Park. The event unfolded on a secluded beach stretch within San Luis Obispo County. According to civil litigation, attendees camped overnight, with alcohol and an array of drugs—including cocaine, ketamine, LSD, marijuana, and Adderall—readily available throughout the festivities.
Around 2 or 3 a.m., Maria Arayza-Alvarez assumed control of a Can-Am ATV despite possessing no prior operating experience, as alleged in the lawsuit. Three other individuals accompanied her, comprising Spano and Hendry. Navigating in darkness perilously close to the cliff edge, the vehicle plummeted over the side into the ocean. While Arayza-Alvarez and two passengers managed to escape, Hendry did not survive the ordeal.
Emergency Response and Legal Allegations
California Highway Patrol officers arrived shortly before 4 a.m., with emergency crews descending the cliff in a futile attempt to rescue Hendry, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her parents, Anita and Michael Hendry, contended in court filings that she drowned after becoming entrapped within the submerged vehicle.
The lawsuit, initiated in March 2022, named Spano, Arayza-Alvarez, and Khaled Azar—who had leased the ATV—alongside Harmony Bluffs LLC, the property-owning company with Spano listed as manager in business records. The complaint asserted that those involved neglected to implement fundamental safety measures near what was described as a sheer coastal drop-off and permitted Arayza-Alvarez to operate the vehicle while allegedly intoxicated and inexperienced.
Criminal Prosecution and Prior Settlements
Arayza-Alvarez faced criminal prosecution related to Hendry's death, subsequently pleading guilty to manslaughter and serving a four-month jail sentence. No other individuals incurred criminal charges. Both Azar and Arayza-Alvarez had previously reached settlements with the Hendry family prior to Spano's agreement.
Background of the Deceased and the Pilot
At the time of her passing, Hendry worked as an artist and bartender at The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar in Paso Robles. The restaurant commemorated her death as an 'unbelievable loss' in a memorial post, highlighting her consistent support for friends and community fundraising initiatives.
Spano supplied an aircraft utilized during the production of Top Gun: Maverick and executed stunt flying sequences, with the stunt team later receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award in recognition of their work.
Legal Commentary and Preventable Decisions
The family's attorney, Nicholas Rowley, characterized the settlement outcome as an acceptance of responsibility. 'In life, we all make mistakes,' Rowley informed The Tribune. 'What defines us is what we do with those mistakes and whether we accept responsibility.' Rowley emphasized that the crash resulted from a sequence of avoidable decisions, noting, 'When people are driving high-powered vehicles near ocean cliffs in the middle of the night, there are obvious risks.' Spano did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Mail.
