The pilot, Mark, was one of the best guys I've ever known. I started off my career with the FAA in September of last year at PWM and he was the union rep at the time. He was also my trainer and taught me a lot of which I'm still using, and probably will use the rest of my career. He was funny, compasionate, and extremely knowledgeable about the job and flying. His eyes lit up everytime you asked him about that Yak. He will be sorely missed by the air traffic and flying community.
SEPilot From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 6260 posts, RR: 39 Reply 1, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2017 times:
This reminds me of a crash that killed the designated examiner who gave me my license. It happened on May 21, 1989 and was a midair collision between the plane (a C-172RG) in which the designated examiner (Ron Brown) was giving a commercial checkride to another pilot and another C-172. The other C-172 hit the C-172RG from behind and severed its tail, causing it to plunge out of control into a river, killing both occupants. The C-172 was able to land safely on the interstate just below; both people aboard survived with minor injuries (although a misguided state trooper attempted to give them a ticket for landing on the highway-he did not succeed.) Ron Brown was very well known in the area and was an extremely able and respected instructor and examiner. I only met him for my flight exam (two years earlier) but I was very impressed with him. It is very sad when we lose such people; from the article I gather that Mark Haskell was very similar.
The problem with making things foolproof is that fools are so doggone ingenious...Dan Keebler
richierich From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 4024 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 1845 times:
Horrible tragedy - feel very badly for Mark's three kids and wife who will never see their father or husband again. Terrible. RIP to both men.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 1802 times:
eksath From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1140 posts, RR: 27 Reply 4, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1453 times:
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Quoting andyinpit (Thread starter): His eyes lit up everytime you asked him about that Yak. He will be sorely missed by the air traffic and flying community.
R.I.P. My condolences to his family and friends.
I got to photograph him and his plane in action at the Great Airshow of Maine 2007 at NAS Brunswick and it was a delight to see him zip up and down the flight line. The picture below does not do enough justice to show the thrill in his display that day. I will try and dig up some more from my archive.
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From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 318 posts, 
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