Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

A 2015 Embraer Phenom 300 crashed on takeoff yesterday in Provo, Utah,&nbsp;shortly after 11:35 a.m. local time, killing the pilot&nbsp;and&nbsp;seriously injuring his front seat passenger. The two other passengers aboard received minor injuries.&nbsp;
The aircraft—tail number&nbsp;N555NR—was en route to Chino, California on a Part 91 flight, when it crashed immediately after takeoff. N555NR is registered to Eagle Jet of Lehi, Utah. Witnesses said the aircraft crashed after attaining an altitude of approximately 10 feet. The airport was closed following the accident and is expected to reopen this afternoon. The closure forced the cancellation of several commercial flights at the airport.
Weather 17 minutes before the accident was reported as IFR with light snow and mist with three miles visibility, ceiling 800 feet overcast, and a zero temperature/dewpoint spread. The NTSB is investigating. Local media&nbsp;reports identified the pilot as 62-year-old Nathan Ricks of Alpine, Utah. According to the FAA database, Ricks held an airline transport pilot rating and was typed in several Cessna Citations and the Phenom.&nbsp;

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