Gupta had reported for duty at 1 p.m. the previous day, and his crash came 14 hours, 45 minutes later -- 45 minutes longer than rules allow, in part because of a freight delay.

The National Transportation Safety Board cited his "failure to maintain control of the airplane during a missed approach" as causing the crash. Also at play: "The operator's inadequate oversight" and "conditions conducive to pilot fatigue."

. On April 8, 2003, three people -- Dave Davenport, 40, Will Forshay, 37, and Wallis Bouldin, 34 -- were killed when another Grand Aire plane crashed in Ohio.

The 35-year-old Falcon jet was carrying cargo on a training flight when it crashed into trees while approaching Toledo Express Airport on a day with freezing mist.

The plane lacked a cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, the black boxes that are not required on small cargo planes.

An investigation later raised questions about the pilot's experience and actions on the fatal flight.

A post-crash review of Grand Aire unearthed a startling memo that reveals the sometimes shoestring nature of the industry: "A memo from the director of operations was found on the pilots' bulletin board praising the pilots for returning to Toledo with minimum fuel," FAA records show.

Five hours after the Toledo crash, another Grand Aire cargo plane crashed in the Mississippi River near St. Louis, injuring two pilots, who were rescued from the water.

. On Nov. 30, 2004, Grand Aire founder Tahir Cheema, himself a pilot, and copilot Eko Pinardi died when their corporate jet crashed into an island on the Missouri River.

The flight appeared destined for trouble even before takeoff, as Cheema had gotten off to a late start, reporting, "We had to abort because the airspeed indicator didn't work, but ... it's fixed now."

Witnesses saw the plane drift to the right during its climbout, then lose altitude. They heard the engines at full power, then silence, then the crash. The HFB Hansa 320 jet was 35 years old, and it crashed just before 8 p.m. on a night with poor weather.

There were other red flags on a jet that lacked black-box devices. The plane was operating under a special "ferry" permit that set restrictions on when it could fly, and it traveled that evening on a one-time permit. The NTSB blamed the crash on maintenance and pilot failures.

Company President Katrina Cheema declined interview requests. "She thanks you for calling. However, she is unavailable and ... she will not be able to have this discussion with you," her office said.