CLEVELAND (Dec. 18)—Jaime F. Beingolea, general manager of Parker Hannifin Corp.'s Gear Pump Division, died Dec. 17 in the crash of a private airplane en route from the Sanford-Lee County Airport to the Outer Banks, N.C.
Beingolea, 46, owned and was piloting the single-engine Cessna 206, which crashed less than a mile from the airport. The four other passengers on the plane survived, including three Parker employees—Mary Rollins, Robert Pajor and Monika Wolak—who worked with Beingolea. Wolak suffered a broken leg, but the others received minor injuries, according to a report from The News Observer in Raleigh, N.C. The group was on personal time, headed for the First Flight Celebration, a Parker release said.
Beingolea was a 24-year Parker employee and was responsible for the company's gear pump business with facilities in Kings Mountain and Sanford, N.C.; Youngstown, Ohio; Sarasota, Fla.; and Monterey, Mexico. He joined Parker in 1979 and held a number of management positions with increasing responsibility throughout his career. He was promoted to general manager of the Gear Pump Division in July 2003.
A resident of Raleigh, N.C., Beingolea is survived by his wife Teresa, son Daniel and daughters Katherine and Monica.
"We are terribly saddened by this loss, yet are grateful the others survived," said Lee Banks, president of Parker's Hydraulics Group. "Our hearts go out to Jaime's family and friends at this tragic time. Our company has lost a bright, young leader who was well-respected and admired by many."