Sino Swearingen’s chief test pilot Carroll Beeler has been killed in a routine, developmental test flight of the company’s SJ30-2 business jet. The fatal accident happened on April 26 when the aircraft crashed in a remote area about 150 miles from San Antonio, Texas.

The cause of the crash is presently unknown and is being investigated by the National Transportation

Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Beeler joined Sino in January 1997 as a flight test pilot. His background included over 11,000 hours of

flying experience in military, commercial and general aviation aircraft over a span of 35 years,

14 of which were in experimental test flying.

A spokesman said: “Sino Swearingen extends its deepest sympathies to Carroll’s family, loved ones and friends. He was an important and well-liked member of our corporate family, and he will be greatly missed.”

A naval aviator, Beeler was a veteran of the Vietnam War and retired from the US Navy with the rank of captain.