NTSB: Visibly Upset Pilot Apologized Before Jumping Out Of Plane

Newly released report states pilot Charles Hew Crooks was visibly upset and may have fallen ill prior to jumping out of his plane. WRAL's Julian Grace reports.

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[kingmegaone]

Im a truck driver not a pilot but like 10 years ago another trucker got into an accident late nite on a bridge I stopped to see if he needed help and he was about to jump off the bridge I stopped him he broke down saying that was the last straw of bad things not going his way for months I checked on him weeks later and he was doing better so one never know I think that pilot was going thru something similar🙏🏼

[larryjones]

Be kind to everyone, as you don't know what battles they are fighting.

[lilyhempt]

I’m so sad for this young man. Nobody deserves to feel this way. My deepest sympathy.

[Kaileegirl]

This is terrible
RIP young man
Deepest sympathies to his family friends and workmates

[jimlawson]

I knew somebody who got an impaired driving charge when he wrecked his car. No injuries at all no one else damaged but he could not handle the dishonour of facing his parents and went home and hung himself. Teach your children to face up to the responsibilities of making a mistake. You deserve a second chance maybe even a third.

[sharonsolana]

Wow!
I'm a pilot, and I have learned a lot from my mistakes, and the mistakes of others. Pilots are hired based on their flight hours (and the types of aircraft they are qualified to fly). Presumably, you are a better pilot with each flight under your belt.
Flight instructors, other pilots, and ATC can be merciless. You have to have thick skin, learn from your mistakes, accept the consequences of your mistakes (if there are any), brush it off, and continue. (You may have to get additional training, etc.)

[AceAnarchy]

From a pilots perspective it seems like he saw that this bad landing had ruined his future. In aviation if anything serious happens in flight, you are supposed to report it. You fill out a NASA form and it goes on your record permanently. He probably thought that this would be an issue that would possibly prevent him from getting another job in this industry. In some cases that can be true, especially if it was human error.

It’s really tragic that this young aviator lost his life, but if this isn’t a wake up call for some sort of reform then I don’t know what is. You can have a lifelong squeaky clean record in aviation, but one mistake will be held over your head and potentially ruin the rest of your career.

[jmrp]

this story is so daunting. living here right here in raleigh, nc, this story was talked about so much at my job. but as more information comes out, i cant help but think this was mishandled stress and embarassment from a mistake that he made an irrational, and fatal decision

[princequestly]

Mental illness is serious if you know someone going through tough times especially someone with history of mental illness and or depression reach out, you never wanna say wish I had. My deepest sympathies to his friends and family. I can’t even imagine what their going through and all the questions they’re left with.

[flex.]

I think he was upset with his mistake, and other things going on with his life that he straight up just couldn't take it and jumped...

[kimberlysevastyanenko]

Despair must have been mounting in his life. This was the final catalyst.

[johnassal]

This was a super weird one. This kind of overreaction isn't just depression but full on psychosis that went totally unnoticed. RIP.

[Treemeadow]

He had already decided the error was going to be fatal, because perfectionism and anxiety do this- catastrophise outcomes in our minds to the point we panic.

This is why self-awareness and mindfulness of how our thoughts can falsely exacerbate emotions is such an important skill to learn.

Condolences to his family and copilot

[undertow]

People are strange
When you’re a stranger

[rtqii]

So the co-pilot was in command of the plane when it first attempted to land, he brought it down too hard and probably was responsible for damaging the landing gear. The pilot then took over command of the plane, aborted the landing, and executed a go around. From the information released it seems the co-pilot was so embarrassed he could not live with himself.

[johnvorres]

During a landing in a Piper Tomahawk I hit the Tail skid . My instructor looked at me with a stern face and stated " you hit the tail skid", .... I was so traumatized, ... then he laughed and said " thats why its there " What a great instructor ! Later that Month we went for a short hop and landed He then said "take it back up for an hour or so", .... and he said " I am goin to get a cup of coffee " I told him I wasn't ready, cant we get a few more lessons in ? He said " your ready " What a great Guy !!

[Lp-zetg]

There can be number of factors but some people don't take failure easily and might do irlogical things.
I remembered years ago an incident took place in Asia and surprised a lot of people. A woman went to see a fortune teller and the fortune teller told her that she will be miserable for the rest of her life. The woman was already in a terrible situation. She was so depressed about the fortune teller comment and she just jumped off the window. She die instantly because it was a high rise building.

[RLH]

You never know what someone is going through mentally.

[myraayt]

Some people don’t take failure or mistakes easily because they are so used to being pressured about it, or feel like it’s the end of the world because someone turns it into a bigger problem than it is.

[flameroad]

The 2020's is truly the decade of crazy.