Colgan Loses a Former Captain

[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.