ABU DHABI — The man who was the subject of a Record-Bee feature story on Jan. 27, 2010, for bringing medical supplies to Haiti via seaplane was killed in seaplane crash on Sunday.
Chuck Kimes and three other United States citizens died in an Al Ain plane crash, according to an article published in “The National” on Sunday.
“He was a wonderful man. I was so shocked to hear this. It was a horrible shock. I had the privilege to work with him for the last three or four years. He loved Lakeport and loved bringing his fellow airmen here,” Melissa Fulton, CEO of Lake County Chamber of Commerce, said. “He was one of those people that when you met him, you wished you had the ability to see him all the time; he was that kind of person. I”m hopeful his friends will carry on his legacy with the Splash-In, because that”s what he really would have wanted. He”ll be missed by lots of people. It”s hard to lose a person like him.”
Kimes organized the annual Lake County seaplane Splash-In. He loved Clear Lake, the organizations and the people in Lake County. He was an avid seaplane enthusiast. He hailed from Zephyr Cove, Nev., but spent a great deal of time on Clear Lake.
Lake County residents may also remember Kimes as the man who assisted in sending seaplanes to Haiti following a devastating earthquake. He arranged to have medical supplies brought into the ravaged country.
The crash occurred just after 8 p.m. when a McKinnon G21G turbo-prop seaplane veered to the left shortly after takeoff from Al Ain International Airport and crashed on the taxiway before catching fire, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) stated. All four on board the plane died. The private plane was bound for Riyadh in Saudi Arabia at the onset of a week-long trip, according to the article in The National.
A release was issued by the United States Embassy stating that U.S. and Emirati authorities are working together to determine the cause of the crash. The small plane was destroyed by the impact and the fire, the GCAA stated.
The U.S. Embassy released the following statement of condolence: “On behalf of the government and people of the United States, the U.S. Mission to the United Arab Emirates extends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the crash in Al Ain on Feb. 27. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who perished in last night”s tragic event,” the statement read.
