Strange indeed.

Very strange. I'm waiting to see what more comes of this.

I would think he was sitting on the right side where they were having landing gear trouble and tried to either see it better or troubleshoot and fell from the plane

hokiewolf said:

---

I would think he was sitting on the right side where they were having landing gear trouble and tried to either see it better or troubleshoot and fell from the plane

---

Weirdest part was hearing the recording of the pilot talking to air traffic folks at RDU, he seemed really relaxed for someone that just had his co-pilot fall out of the freaking plane.

I haven't heard the radio exchange, but I'd be freaking out.

They say any landing you can walk away from is a good landing. The copilot's was not a good one. If he wasn't suicidal, maybe he was trying to get a look at the damaged wheel? Doesn't make a lot of sense either way.

hokiewolf said:

---

I would think he was sitting on the right side where they were having landing gear trouble and tried to either see it better or troubleshoot and fell from the plane

---

This is what I'm thinking. He tried to open a hatch or door to get a better look and/or try to manually manipulate the landing gear, and somehow slipped or got pulled out by the draft.

Was his wife on the plane ?

wilmwolf80 said:

---

Was his wife on the plane ?

---

No idea, but my ex apparently wasn't, damn it.

AlleyPack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

I would think he was sitting on the right side where they were having landing gear trouble and tried to either see it better or troubleshoot and fell from the plane

---

This is what I'm thinking. He tried to open a hatch or door to get a better look and/or try to manually manipulate the landing gear, and somehow slipped or got pulled out by the draft.

---

See thats very logical....but if so, why wouldn't they just disclose that? I guess that could be the working theory, but the authorities want to do the due diligence before clearing it.

I have many hours in that very airplane, N497CA. Got my start when it was owned by Paul Fayard (before becoming Rampart Aviation) just outside Louisburg.

The Casa has fixed gear. It's beefy and reenforced for takeoffs/landings on unpaved surfaces. To tear a main gear off would have to be a super hard landing.

There is no way to open a side door on the aircraft in flight. The relative wind would too great. I suppose they could open the ramp and lean over for a look but it would be very difficult and foolish.

Just my guess (and I could be totally wrong) the SIC had illegal substances in his system and knew when emergency services met the airplane they would both be immediately tested. His flying carrier would be over and could face civil penalties for damages to the airplane if he was the one who made the hard landing that tore the main gear off?

Again, just a total guess on my part. I wonder if the toxicology report will be made public?

Either way, it's a really bizarre store and I feel sorry for his family and friends.

Gulfstream4 said:

---

I have many hours in that very airplane, N497CA. Got my start when it was owned by Paul Fayard (before becoming Rampart Aviation) just outside Louisburg.

The Casa has fixed gear. It's beefy and reenforced for takeoffs/landings on unpaved surfaces. To tear a main gear off would have to be a super hard landing.

There is no way to open a side door on the aircraft in flight. The relative wind would too great. I suppose they could open the ramp and lean over for a look but it would be very difficult and foolish.

Just my guess (and I could be totally wrong) the SIC had illegal substances in his system and knew when emergency services met the airplane they would both be immediately tested. His flying carrier would be over and could face civil penalties for damages to the airplane if he was the one who made the hard landing that tore the main gear off?

Again, just a total guess on my part. I wonder if the toxicology report will be made public?

Either way, it's a really bizarre store and I feel sorry for his family and friends.

---

Certainly a possibility. I think I'd choose the career over before falling to my death from an airplane though, what an awful way to go. There's definitely more to this story though, will be interesting how much is made public.

North Carolina pilot who died in fall from plane jumped out, air traffic controllers say https://t.co/rlsvY1yXMs

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 3, 2022

NTSB released it's initial report on the co-pilot. He either fell out of the back or jumped out of the back. If he had something in his system that he shouldn't have, then I imagine he jumped.

https://www.wral.com/before-jumping-from-plane-co-pilot-was-visibly-upset-and-may-have-gotten-sick/20420061/

Another story from the N & O and the NTSB report is with it.

https://www.wral.com/before-jumping-from-plane-co-pilot-was-visibly-upset-and-may-have-gotten-sick/20420061/

The main pilot is the uncle of my daughters close friend and roommate. I was with her and my daughter, when she received the call about the incident…

I really haven't asked any questions; however, if she hears anything, that she can talk about, I'll share it.

The medical examiner has ruled a cause of death

https://abc11.com/charles-crooks-rdu-emergency-landing-man-falls-from-airplane-autopsy/12510820/