The NTSB has released its preliminary report on a North Carolina accident where the co-pilot left the plane mid-flight and plunged to his death.
The preliminary report was released Aug. 22, 2022, on the July 29, 2022, accident. Investigators note that the report includes “preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.”
According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), he and his second-in-command (SIC) flew two skydiving runs in the Casa 212-200, then descended to the Raeford West Airport (NR20) to pick up a third group of skydivers.
The SIC was flying the approach to NR20 and was “on heading, altitude, and airspeed” until the airplane descended below the tree line and “dropped.”
Both pilots called for a go-around maneuver, which the SIC initiated. However, before he could arrest the airplane’s sink rate and initiate a climb, the right main landing gear hit the runway surface.
The PIC took over the flight controls when the plane reached 400 feet agl, then flew a low approach over NR20 to have airfield personnel verify damage. Airport personnel subsequently called the PIC to let him know that they recovered the fractured landing gear on the runway. The PIC directed the SIC to declare an emergency and request a diversion to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (KRDU) for landing.
While enroute to KRDU, the crew coordinated with air traffic control, operations, and their customer, and planned their approach and landing, with the SIC responsible for communicating with air traffic control while the PIC flew the airplane.
The PIC reported that there was moderate turbulence during the flight, and that about 20 minutes into the diversion to KRDU, after conducting approach and emergency briefings, the SIC became visibly upset about the hard landing.
A review of preliminary air traffic control radio communication information indicated that the SIC had been communicating with air traffic control up to that point in the flight. In his final transmission, the SIC acknowledged a course heading from air traffic control.
The PIC described that about this time the SIC opened his side cockpit window and “may have gotten sick.” The PIC took over radio communications, and the SIC lowered the ramp in the back of the airplane, indicating that he felt like he was going to be sick and needed air.
The PIC stated that the SIC then got up from his seat, removed his headset, apologized, and departed the airplane via the aft ramp door.
The PIC noted there was a bar one could grab about 6 feet above the ramp, however he did not witness the SIC grab the bar before exiting the airplane.
The PIC then turned the airplane to the right to search for the SIC.
In a radio transmission to air traffic control about 1-1⁄2 minutes after the SIC’s radio acknowledgement of the course heading, the PIC notified air traffic control that his copilot had departed the airplane without a parachute.
The PIC proceeded on course to KRDU, where he performed a low approach and then emergency landing. Upon landing, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass.
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the landing gear, landing gear fittings, and the airframe structure where the fittings attach.
The airplane was retained for further examination.
First responders found the body of 23-year-old Charles Hew Crooks near a residential area in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.
A final report will be released once the NTSB’s full investigation is complete. That usually takes about 18 months.
You can read the full preliminary report by searching ERA22LA348 on the NTSB website. Be aware that when you click on the link to the PDF, it will trigger a download to your device.
Maybe he went to the ramp to vomit, and accidently fell out ?
This is what my guess would be also.