Colgan Loses a Former Captain

[Godfather]

Vayo Con Dios Ben Hickin...

Just got the word that former Colgan Air Captain Ben Hickin took his final ride westbound last night on February 23. Ben was killed in a plane crash on Feb 23 near SHD (Shenandoah Valley Airport) in Virginia.

Ben was an awesome guy and great friend. He leaves behind his wife and 5 children. Ben left Colgan this past summer to work at Gemini Air Cargo. Ben worked at Colgan from 2000 and was a Saab Captain based in Manassas.

A memorial family fund has been established for Ben's family.

You can send your donations to:

Ben Hickin Memorial Family Fund
c/o Captain Travis Simmons
237 Berry Farm Road
Staunton, VA 24401

make checks payable to Travis Simmons. Dupont Community Credit Union will handle the account. Electronic Deposit Funds Transfers will not be set up on this fund. The money saved on the EFT fees can be used for the fund or what ever the donor wishes. Travis, A Colgan Saab Captain is one of Ben's best friends and can be trusted to handle the account.

The Memorial Service will be held on Sunday Feb 26 at 5:00 PM at the Community Fellowship Church in downtown Staunton, VA. The family will have a private burial on Monday

So long bro, you will be missed, now fly west

 

[Prop2Jet]

May God bless him and his family.....I am at a loss for words.

 

[English]

Ben and I worked together briefly at Colgan. We did our type ride orals together, and went though IOE at the same time. I'm really bummed to hear the news. First Scott, now Ben.

 

[Godfather]

bump

bump!

 

[FN FAL]

Article published Feb 24, 2006
Plane crashes along I-81; 1 dead
By Brad Zinn/staff





MOUNT SIDNEY — A small airplane clipped a high-tension line and crashed along Interstate 81 about 11:15 p.m. Thursday, killing the occupant.

Augusta County Sheriff's Sgt. W.M. Fulton said the plane landed along the highway north of Va. 775 near the 232 mile marker after striking a northbound truck. Electricity was out in parts of the immediate area, and lights flickered as far away as Staunton.

Fulton had no information on the identity of the person who died, nor did he know where the plane was headed. Only one person was believed to have been aboard.

The crash scene was approximately 2 miles southwest of Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport. An airport spokesman said he doesn't believe any aircraft based at the airport were involved, but reports were still sketchy shortly before 1:30 a.m. today. Executive Director Greg Campbell said he was still waiting to get information on the crash from state police, who are handling the investigation.

The FAA regional office in New York did not immediately return phone calls. A marking on a crumpled wing identified the plane as a Cessna, a brand of high-wing aircraft common in private aviation.

Trucker Scott Mitchell was hauling cars sold on eBay north to Baltimore and New Jersey when he saw the plane's lights in his rearview mirror. The plane took out the window in a '56 Chevrolet he was carrying and sprayed hydraulic fluid over the cars.

"By the time I got out of the truck, it was a ball of flame," Mitchell said.
Trucker Gary Nasemore was at the Mount Sidney rest area when he saw the plane circle at tree-top level three times.

"And then the fourth one he took off and came up north," Nasemore said. "That's when the power flickered and went out in the rest area."

Grottoes firefighters and Dominion Virginia Power officials were on Va. 775 after the wreck examining the downed high-tension wire, which was laying across the road. The static wire carried no electricity, but came down across live wires and showered down sparks, firefighters said.
— Staff writers David Fritz and Jennie Coughlin contributed to this report

......

 

[ihateyourego]

It's terrible news. I just found out. Ben got me the job here at Colgan. Brought my resume in and wouldn't leave the office till I was hired. He taught me the ropes and was a great mentor. I had the chance to fly with him a little bit in the plane I was flying at the time, and he was just a cool dude. Great pilot too. The whole things a tragedy. Leaving a big family behind. I'm just stunned. I beg anybody out there with something negative to say just save it for another day. Now's not the time for it.

 

[better up here]

God Bless

 

[porra]

May God Bless him and his loved ones...
God speed...

 

[CoolSidePillow]

No matter who you fly for or why you chose to fly Ben was the kind of guy you enjoyed flying with all the time. He was just a good guy.
Ride the sky Ben, you're missed already.

 

[shuttlepilot]

I've known Ben since he was a little airport rat, begging rides. I'm stunned and will miss him. Keep Marli and the kids in your prayers...

 

[Godfather]

bump!

 

[Snaab]

I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I fly with many Captains who were FOs for him. Each of them was very fond of Ben. I was hired about the time he left for Gemini. His wife and children are in my thoughts.

 

[On Your Six]

Stunned and saddened. Five children and a wife. I can't even imagine... RIP!!!!!!

 

[low-key]

Clear skies and tailwinds my friend, God Bless.

 

[ERfly]

I only sat Hot Reserve with Ben once and have taken several airplanes from him. I didn't get a chance to know him that well, but no one ever said a bad word about him. Ben, you will be missed. Godspeed and tailwinds.

 

[Prop2Jet]

where do we donate funds to help his family?

 

[Godfather]

Ben Hickin Memorial Family Fund

where do we donate funds to help his family?

Ben Hickin Memorial Family Fund
c/o Captain Travis Simmons
237 Berry Farm Road
Staunton, VA 24401

make check payable to "Travis Simmons"

There will be no Electronic Deposit Fund Transfer for this account.

Any amount will help, no matter how small. Ben was the only income for the family, Marli is Mom. Need I say more...

 

[Thurman Merman]

Ben will be missed, here's one as he heads "west"

FLYING WEST​

I hope there's a place, way up in the sky
Where pilots can go when they have to die.
A place where a guy could buy a cold beer
For a friend and a comrade whose memory is dear.
A place where no doctor or lawyer could tread,
Nor a management-type would e'ler be caught dead!
Just a quaint little place, kind of dark, full of smoke,
Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke.
The kind of a place that a lady could go
And feel safe and secure by the men she would know.

There must be a place where old pilots go,
When their wings become heavy, when their airspeed gets low,
Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young,
And songs about flying and dying are sung.
Where you'd see all the fellows who'd 'flown west' before,
And they'd call out your name, as you came through the door,
Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad,
And relate to the others, "He was quite a good lad!"

And there, through the mist, you'd spot an old guy
You had not seen in years, though he'd taught you to fly.
He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear
And say, "Welcome, my Son, I'm proud that you're here!
For this is the place where true flyers come
When the battles are over, and the wars have been won.
They've come here at last, to be safe and alone,
>From the government clerk, and the management clone;
Politicians and lawyers, the Feds, and the noise,
Where all hours are happy, and these good ol' boys
Can relax with a cool one, and a well deserved rest!
This is Heaven, my Son. You've passed your last test!"

— Captain Michael J. Larkin, TWA (Ret.), 'Air Line Pilot' magazine, February 1995.​

 

[Amish RakeFight]

anyone have more details on the crash like what might have gone wrong?

My Condolences to his family.

 

[MikeSF340]

I'm at a loss for words. I had the oportunity to fly with Ben as my captain a few times. He was a GREAT guy and very good pilot. He flew a raw data ILS approach into IAD during a line check while I was his Fo....because he could. He was larger than life and I'm sure will be missed terribly. Best wishes to his family and his closest friends.

Mike

"Birdman"

 

[Captain Happy]

As a former Colgan FO 4-01 to 10-01, Hyannis/Portland before furlough. I say Gods Speed! It is fabulous to see such support for a former co-worker. May we all leave as positive a mark on those we touch!!!!!!!

To the family left behind my deepest condolences.

 

[Speedtree]

I had the privilege of being a roommate of Ben's in college. He is a shining example of the effect of Christ in a person's life. He had a zeal for life and a love for his family and others that has been already spoken of. Words cannot completely describe the impact Ben has had on those of us who had the honor of knowing him.

We'll miss you Ben. See you someday.

 

[Bryan D]

anyone have more details on the crash like what might have gone wrong?

My Condolences to his family.

NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On Plane Crash
By Melissa Martin / WSLS NewsChannel 10
Mar 1, 2006

Investigators have new information about what happened right before a Cessna plane crashed on I-81, killing the only man on board.
Police say 30 year old Benjamin Hickin hit a power line last Thursday night and crashed on the side of Interstate 81 in Augusta county.
Today, the NTSB released its preliminary report. It confirms all of that information, and adds that Hickin was talking on "a cell phone, to a friend driving a tractor trailer northbound on interstate 81." The driver "was also a part owner" of the airplane.
State police tell us Hickin and the driver were trying to find each other and were talking on the phone when he hit the power line.

 

[MJG]

NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On Plane Crash

It confirms all of that information, and adds that ****** was talking on a cell phone, to a friend driving a tractor trailer northbound on interstate 81. The driver "was also a part owner" of the airplane.
State police tell us ****** and the driver were trying to find each other and were talking on the phone when he hit the power line.

I don't know what to say, so sorry for his family.