NC Pilot 'Visibly Upset' Before Jumping To His Death: Officials

RALEIGH, NC — A North Carolina pilot became visibly upset during a failed landing attempt and a flight diversion before jumping to his death from the plane last month, federal officials said.

Charles Hew Crooks, 23, who was the second-in-command of a CASA 212-200 plane that was making skydiving runs out of Raeford on July 29, apologized and told the senior pilot he needed to get some air before jumping from the plane's aft ramp door, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The senior pilot turned the plane to look for Crooks and told air traffic control he had jumped from the plane without a parachute before continuing and making the emergency landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Crooks opened his cockpit window and may have gotten sick prior to jumping, according to the report.

The pilots had flown two skydiving runs and were returning to Raeford West Airport to pick up a third group when complications in the landing caused the right main landing gear to suffer significant damage and break off the aircraft, forcing the emergency diversion to Raleigh.

Crooks had been communicating with air traffic control regarding approach and emergency briefings for their Raleigh landing. The plane experienced turbulence, and Crooks became "visibly upset," according to the report.