Pilot Pax Lands King Air after Pilot Dies

By: Chad Trautvetter

May 1, 2009
General Aviation, Safety

The FAA is hailing three South Florida air traffic controllers for assisting Doug White, a fixed-wing single-engine-rated private pilot and passenger, in safely landing King Air B200 N559DW on April 12 after pilot Joe Cabuk Jr. became incapacitated minutes after takeoff from Marco Island (Fla.) Executive Airport.

After Cabuk became unconscious, a Miami Center controller redirected White to the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, where tower controllers Brian Norton and Dan Favio took over. Favio, a controller in training at the facility, called King Air-rated pilot and his former flight instructor Kari Sorenson, who relayed King Air checklist items, speeds and procedures to Favio, who in turn radioed the step-by-step instructions to White.

White landed the King Air at the Fort Myers airport without further incident. Cabuk was later declared dead.

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