A Centerville family is in mourning tonight - a father, brother and husband, killed in a plane crash Monday night. The pilot took off from Caldwell, Idaho, Monday evening and fell off the radar at 11:55 p.m. Tuesday morning, just before 10:30 the plane wreckage was found just south of Hagerman, Idaho.
“He always wanted to be a pilot,” says the pilot’s brother, Bryan Jewett.
Craig Jewett was a big fan of Indiana Jones and Star Wars - so two years ago - the 41-year-old father started flight lessons at the Sky Park in Woods Cross.
Over the weekend, Craig Jewett went to Caldwell, Idaho to buy a plane - a six seat Piper Comanche.
But Craig Jewett never returned.
“We did hope everything would be ok. We had friends helping in the search. So we were hoping for a better outcome,” expresses Bryan Jewett.
Close friends say after Craig Jewett took off from Caldwell in his new plane, he experienced door problems and turned around to land at Mountain Home. But he got disoriented in the dark, circled around Boise and then crashed just south of Hagerman near Twin Falls.
Craig Jewett leaves behind a wife and four young boys.
“He was a great father. His kids were always with him. For the kids it will be a big loss, no one will be able to fill his shoes. He has a big heart and was always helping people,” recalls Bryan Jewett.
Family and friends are now turning to their faith to deal with this tragic loss. Bryan Jewett adds, “He was a great brother and a great father. He will be missed; we love him and will rely on the gospel.”
Craig Jewett had over 60 flight hours at the Sky Park in Woods Cross; still, he was a new pilot in a fast plane. The Piper Comanche gets reach speeds up to 200 miles per hour. Fellow pilots say the conditions Monday night were tricky, especially for a new pilot.
The FAA is now investigating to find out exactly what caused the crash.
