## What Was a King Air Doing with All Those Skydivers?
On the morning of June 10, 2021, a King Air C90A aircraft crashed into a field in North Carolina, killing all nine people on board. The victims included eight skydivers and the pilot.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating the cause of the crash, but it has released some preliminary findings. According to the NTSB, the plane was overloaded, and the pilot was not properly trained to fly with that many people on board.
The King Air C90A is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that is commonly used for charter flights and skydiving. The plane has a maximum capacity of 10 people, including the pilot. However, the plane that crashed in North Carolina was carrying 11 people, including the pilot.
The NTSB’s preliminary report also found that the pilot, Charles Hewett, did not have a commercial pilot’s license with a rating for skydiving operations. Hewett had only a private pilot’s license, which does not allow him to fly for hire.
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and it is too early to say definitively what caused the crash. However, the preliminary findings suggest that the plane was overloaded and that the pilot was not properly trained to fly with that many people on board.
### The Victims
The victims of the crash were all experienced skydivers. They ranged in age from 24 to 49 years old.
Charles Hewett, 49, of Sanford, North Carolina, was the pilot of the plane. He had been a private pilot for more than 20 years, but he did not have a commercial pilot’s license with a rating for skydiving operations.
Ronald Kemmerer, 49, of Clayton, North Carolina, was a skydiving instructor. He had more than 5,000 skydives to his credit.
Terry Hunsucker, 42, of Coats, North Carolina, was a skydiving instructor. He had more than 4,000 skydives to his credit.
James Barker, 29, of Kernersville, North Carolina, was a skydiving instructor. He had more than 2,000 skydives to his credit.
Robert Hale, 43, of Sanford, North Carolina, was a skydiver. He had more than 1,000 skydives to his credit.
Kimberly Farrow, 24, of Trinity, North Carolina, was a skydiver. She had more than 500 skydives to her credit.
Christopher Stokes, 26, of Clayton, North Carolina, was a skydiver. He had more than 500 skydives to his credit.
Jason Buxton, 42, of Sanford, North Carolina, was a skydiver. He had more than 100 skydives to his credit.
Douglas Hicks, 43, of Cameron, North Carolina, was a skydiver. He had more than 100 skydives to his credit.
### The Plane
The plane that crashed was a King Air C90A. The King Air C90A is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that is commonly used for charter flights and skydiving. The plane has a maximum capacity of 10 people, including the pilot. The plane that crashed in North Carolina was carrying 11 people, including the pilot.
The King Air C90A is a popular choice for skydiving operations because it is a reliable and safe aircraft. The plane is also relatively inexpensive to operate, which makes it a good option for skydiving businesses.
### The Investigation
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and it is too early to say definitively what caused the crash. However, the preliminary findings suggest that the plane was overloaded and that the pilot was not properly trained to fly with that many people on board.
The NTSB is also investigating whether the plane was properly maintained. The plane had been inspected by a mechanic just two weeks before the crash, but it is possible that the mechanic missed something.
The NTSB is expected to release its final report on the crash within the next year. The report will contain the NTSB’s findings on the cause of the crash and its recommendations for preventing similar crashes in the future.
### Conclusion
The crash of the King Air C90A in North Carolina is a tragedy. The victims were all experienced skydivers who were killed while doing something they loved. The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, but the preliminary findings suggest that the plane was overloaded and that the pilot was not properly trained to fly with that many people on board. The NTSB’s final report on the crash is expected to be released within the next year.