Cessna 320 crash kills father, three daughters.
Cessna 310/320 series similar to accident aircraft. Photo by Avitya.
A Cessna 320 Skynight crashed near Fallon Municipal Airport (FLX) in Fallon Nevada, killing the pilot and his three daughters late Friday (May 22, 2009). The accident occurred at 7:36 PM local time.
Details regarding this crash are scarce as investigators have not ruled out anything as to what may have brought down this airplane. What is known is that Cdr. Luther H. Hook III, the pilot, flew from FLX to Fresno -Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in Fresno, California to pick up his three daughters (they lived with Hook’s ex-wife in Fresno). The plane crashed while approaching FLX on the return trip. All four aboard were killed. Hook’s daughters were Kaitlyn Hook, Rachel Hook, and Mackenzie Hook.
Witnesses say they saw the plane flying erratically before crashing and that it appeared as if something was going wrong. However, just what exactly was meant by the witnesses as “erratic” has not been specified in reports and we will have to wait for the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report to get a better understanding. While visibility and weather conditions were good, there were wind gusts of nearly 50 mph in the area. It is possible that the “erratic” flying may have simply been the pilot correcting for a sudden gust that destabilized the approach, which would be no big deal for any pilot, but may look like erratic flying to someone on the ground. Until we get a better explanation of the erratic flying, it would be hard to tell if it was related to the accident.
The aircraft’s registration was N320KP.
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How can an experienced pilot with his children on board lose control at these winds/
Brenda Hook,
Honestly, from the information that has been reported up until this point, I really doubt that this is a wind issue. The pilot was one mile from the airport so it isn’t like he was near the ground where a sudden wind gust can cause problems. I really think something else is amiss here. I’ll keep checking back in reports and government agencies to get more info on this crash as the days pass, but I don’t think he lost control because of winds… it seems extremely far fetched. Had he been about to touch down, I can see the possibility, but not one mile from the airport. I’ll keep you updated as best as I can.
Fernando Montalvo
Velozia Air
Brenda, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your dad and sisters. This is such a tragedy and such a loss. I attended school with your grandmother in Havana and knew your dad as a handsome young boy there. Everyone was so proud of his accomplishments as people are in small towns. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. God bless.
Fernando, I was wondering if you have received any updated information as to the reason the plane crashed? I feel so cheated out of a life with my three wonderful daughters. I am still trying to cope with their loss. I am completely miserable. I keep going through the events that transpired that day and believe that if I had some answers things would get easier. Please help if you can. Brenda
Brenda,
I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult this situation must be for you. I’ve lost friends in aviation accidents, but never someone as close as your daughters are to you. I don’t think this is something that one can cope with in so little time. I did post a small update that basically summarized the NTSB report and offered one likely scenario HERE. Unfortunately, accident investigation is not a quick process, especially when it comes to general aviation. Judging from final reports of accidents similar to this one, the range of time in which this report may come out is anywhere from six months to two years. Information tends to trickle slowly in accidents such as this one.
Again, sorry for your loss.