James was a HAMB memeber, many of you know him especially in California.He passed away in a horrible vintage plane crash.He will be missed.... RIP 2 dead in St. Lucie Co. plane crash Reported by: TCPalm Last Update: 6:32 am Plane crash St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputies and dive team, U.S. Coast Guard and the St. Lucie County lifeguards work to recover the victims of an airplane crash in the ocean off the 9800 block of State Road A1A, across from Nettles Island. (Photo by Eric Hasert, Courtesy: tcpalm.com) ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — Two aviators have died in the crash of a single-engine plane into the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred yards offshore from a beach across the highway from Nettles Island. St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said the pilot was Donald T. Hopkin, 60, of Fort Lauderdale, and a part-time resident of Jensen Beach. The passenger was James B. Dooms, 39, of North Palm Beach. The bodies of the two men were recovered about 150 yards east of Nettles Island in 10-15 feet of water, Mascara said in a prepared release. The crash occurred about 11:45 a.m. Saturday. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified. A Palm Beach County sheriff’s helicopter was flying nearby at the time of the crash and was on-scene within seconds. The Sheriff's Office release did not identify the airport the plane - a YAK-52 - took off from. The crash occurred in front of a swimming pool and crowded beach across State Road A1A from Nettles Island, a community just north of the Martin/St. Lucie County line. Eyewitness Brinda Lee described the airplane as having a camouflaged fuselage and red/orange wings. "It was flying so low, I remember thinking it was a danger to people on the beach," Lee said. But Lee and several other eyewitnesses agreed the plane was not smoking and did not appear to be in any mechanical distress. Pool attendant Greg Theiling said the plane was flying north and had almost completed a 360-degree turn directly in front of the crowded beach. "I thought it was going to be a little stunt show," Theiling said. Moments later, he was startled to see the plane plunge nose-first into the water. Palm City beachgoer Mike Arechabala said, "He turned west to go north again and he really cranked it into the turn. "He dove straight into the water." Tina Johnson, also of Palm City, witnessed the crash too. "The sound was horrendous," Johnson said. "It was a huge ‘pop.’" Lee and several other witnesses said no people, or even wreckage, surfaced at the crash site. "With all my heart, I felt I would see some people come out of the plane," Lee said. "But nobody did." Two sheriff’s divers working the crash site by early afternoon were joined by a third diver, towed to the scene from the beach behind a Martin County lifeguard personal watercraft. Coast Guard and St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputies, both aviation and marine units, continue to work the scene.
Rip James, tough thing for me was I was delivering a yacht north and saw the entire thing happen. I was on scene before the police or Coast Guard and tried to assist but it was already too late. I only just found out it was a friend this afternoon when Movinman txt me. I owe finding the HAMB to James. Rest in Peace and prayers to all of his friends and family.
James was a fine person. When I first moved to FL he took me in with open arms , introucin me to everyone I needed to know. 3 Nights after I moved there. I striped his shoebox into the wee hours of the morning. He and Paula had me to theor home on several occasions. He was also responsable for The SInger Island INvasion car show in West Palm Beach.
Another one on this great forum has passed. I didn't know him, but I'm sure he will be missed by friends family and loved ones. R.I.P. James Klaus
Saturday Morning 7:30 A.M. at Juno Beach Pier Fellow surfers will be releasing his ashes to the ocean where he loved to be.... If you would like to attend i would advise to be there early, James "unpunk01" loved hot rods and customs so try to bring yours.... Our car club will be there at 7:00 am.
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