Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 341
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Capt. Don Hopkin, 60, of the 157-foot Christensen Scott Free was killed on Saturday, May 15, 2010 after the Yak-52 single-engine plane he was piloting crashed into the ocean off Nettles Island beach on Hutchinson Island in St. Lucie County, Florida.
Hopkin’s passenger James B. Dooms, 39, of North Palm Beach was also killed in the accident.
Hopkin boasted more than 31 years experience in the yachting industry. Before working on the Christensen, Hopkin captained the owner’s previous boat, also called Scott Free, for seven years. Hopkin was raised in North Florida and grew up around boats. His hobbies off the water were golf and flying.
Our thoughts go out to the captain’s family and crew.
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Joined: 07/05/2008
Posts: 9
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I just went to school with Don at MPT, he sat right in front of my in a 3 week celestial nav class. He was always talking about taking planes up and flying. He seemed like a really great guy. Was super friendly and I am really sad to hear about this. Rob
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Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 1011
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Seems the passengers name proved a bit too prophetic. Sad also that it was a charity benefit flight.
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Joined: 28/02/2010
Posts: 18
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Such a shame. I knew Don. I was parked (moored) next to Scott Free for several weeks at Sunrise Harbor in Fort Lauderdale. He and his crew were extremely nice, as was Tony Scott, the film director who owns the yacht. May he rest in Neptune's heaven.
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