They crashed north of the airport shortly after their fourth or fifth takeoff. There were no reported mechanical problems. Martin, reportedly a 200 hour pilot, was killed, along with one of his passengers, Sara Baker, 15. Another pax, Jesse Bishop, also 15, was in critical condition. Baker had received flying lessons for Christmas, but this was, supposedly, just a pleasure flight.
Few things bother an airline's management more than excess capacity.
In 1997, there were 1,056 deaths, down sharply from the 1,605 number established in 1996. The FAA said last week that Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based cargo carrier Amerijet Intl. According to the agency, those deficiencies included unapproved weight and balance forms, improperly secured cargo, unapproved cargo loading equipment, and uncertified cargo scales at several Caribbean outstations. The December 20 crash of a Long-EZ piloted by writer James Gleick at West Milford, NJ came as a shock to many of his fans.