A national story that shook the country has now hit close to home.

The man who died from a fall out of an airplane recently in North Carolina grew up in Fairfield.

Charles Crooks went to Osborn Hill Elementary School. The staff remembers him as a great kid and spoke very fondly of his family.

On July 29, eyewitnesses near the Raleigh, North Carolina, airport called police about a plane that had to make an emergency landing after the co-pilot fell out of the plane.

Police say Crooks accidentally fell out of the plane when he was checking landing gear and died.

"We'd love to reach out and connect with the family and express our sorrow but also just what a wonderful thing that he loved to fly so much. I think that's fabulous," said Marcy Venezia with Above the Clouds Kids.

Members of Above The Clouds Kids, a greater Boston nonprofit that brings flight to kids in underserved communities, is accepting donations in Crooks' memory at the request of his family.

"Some of the donations have been coming in, which is really awesome," said Marie Freisleben with Above the Clouds Kids.

In Crooks' obituary it says, "He was guided always by a strong moral compass; a fierce love for and loyalty to his family and friends; and a heart that was open and forgiving."

He was a flight instructor at the Raleigh-Durham Airport.

People in North Carolina are still trying to understand how this happened.

"I guess I don't know if we'll ever really know. But it’s just crazy," said an eyewitness.

Crooks' family is holding a private service at their church in Westport this weekend.

Authorities are still investigating the case.