Mark Gibbo Gibson
I just learned that trike pioneer and topless wing builder Mark Gibson died this morning while flying his trike during an engine failure in the Houston area. This is a cut and past from Facebook from Steve Burns:
I don't put much on Facebook as much of my friends know, but this venue appears to be the best way to get some tragic new to the most people. It is with a heavy heart, still in shock, that I have to report that one of my best friends, my mentor, my hero, is no longer with us. Mark Gibson died this morning after crashing his trike into a line of trees following an engine out. He was flying locally from the Dan Jones airport in Houston, Tx. The crash site was about one mile north of the airport. Gregg Ludwig is going to try to help with the investigation. More info as it develops. There are no words to express my grief.
I am stunned and deeply saddened by this news. My sincere condolences to Mark's family.
TBW
Comments
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/1-dead-in-Tomball-plane-crash-6353340.php
Just heard about this..... sad man, I talked to Mark when I first started considering building my own Trike.
I will pray for his family.
This is heart breaking. May he RIP. Praying for his family. He was very adventurous. And a great human being.
This is very tragic news. My deepest condolences to family and friends. RIP Mark.
Tragic news indeed. My deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, friends and triking buddies. May he rest in peace and fly on forever.
Fly in heaven Mark.
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- Christopher@BigRed
- TrikeBoyWonder@TrikeBoyWonder
- Dan H@dhickox
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Tragic news, sad to lose any of our friends, a grave loss to all and to the sport. Thanks for all you gave us Mark
Wow. Gibbo is a hang buddy from long ago. Great loss to all.
Just learned of this tragedy. Gibbo helped me on many things with my trike. A good guy. RIP.
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- Ken@knussear
- Jackye Reynolds@skyjackye0
Dan HKen liked this
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Per Coroner, he had a massive heart attack in the air and was likely out well before the end.
There may be a pilot memorial event for him soon. Possibly the weekend of the 11th. Various parties are trying to get something organized.
Very sad indeed. Quite a loss.
Wow....I'm speechless. Dan, is there a fund set up to help out his family?
Thank you for the update.
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- TrikeBoyWonder@TrikeBoyWonder
- Ken@knussear
- Leo@LeoIezzi
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It's hard to believe Gibbo had a massive heart attack, as he was telling me he was getting to be in the best shape of his life after his 2009 power line collision. It was the cause of some serious damage however. I hope that there will be some peace for his family if this was truly the likelihood of his death... He had played and partied hard on his Father's Day cruise. I know Gibbo had recently got a new GoPro and was going to be flying with it, so there may be some further evidence if the camera was used and had been found or retrieved at the site. I will hope for more details to emerge soon, and I am so riddled with heartache for his family and all of us that were "connected" with his adventurous pursuits beyond friendship.
I wish there was someone there to pick up the torch Gibbo carried for the EAB triking community as well.
Sigh!!!
One of the fittest guys I know, about 40 years old, tri-athete etc. had a heart attack and nearly died in a parking lot trying to get to his car. Fitness ≠ Healthy heart
Gibbo had a very serious power line accident back awhile ago (4-5 years) where his heart stopped while he was being treated in the hospital for his massive and critical injuries. The doctors decided to do an emergency open heart procedure on him right then to save his life so it is quite possible that he had residual complication that could cause a heart failure during flight...at least it is a plausible scenario. Anyway, I am thinking that a wing failure in flight would be a very, very unlikely scenario as Mark Gibson was brilliant at building wings. Of all the accidents that have ever involved any of his wings, not one of them was due to failure in flight...pilot error were the causes. He was testing a 17 meter 'Mako' which was just a 'scale up' from his two successful 'Mako' wings of 12.5 & 15 meters...............
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- Ken@knussear
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Joined up to update this thread. I live next door to Mark and spent a great deal of time with him over the last 8 years, it's awesome to see the love on the web him, to me he was just the greatest single person I have ever met, amazing in everything he does/did.
There is a gofundme account set-up by his wife Sasha, I'll link it here, and I also can confirm that Mark had a medical emergency while in flight that left him without the ability to fly his plane, which those of us that knew him and his planes already knew/assumed.
http://www.gofundme.com/y3ah74
Mark was happy daily, loved life, and loved his family. The void created with his final departure is one that I will personally feel daily for the rest of my life.
Thank you for the link and the update Carl. Please give his family our condolences.
Thanks for the link. I never met Mark in person but spoke to him often. I am very sad at this loss. I can't even imagine what his family is going through. Mark was phenomenal at helping anyone. He was so upbeat and adventurous.Six months or so ago. Mark built me a wing. A beautiful 17 meter wing. Now that wing means even more to me. Wherever i fly, i will take with me the memory of a friend. i sure hope that God gives his family patience and strength.
hey riz, has this loss been mentioned on the 'dark side'? i may have missed it, but i'm saddened to not read of this on that site, i almost bought one of 'gibbos' 103 trikes, i wish i had. rip. gibbo.