Cousin Remembers Fallen Pilot, Cherry Point Releases New Info

The Marine Corps pilot who died when his Harrier jet crashed Monday in Craven County wanted to be a pilot his whole life, his cousin says.

MCAS Cherry Point officials identified the pilot of the downed AV-8B Tuesday night as Capt. Alberto Bencosme.

“[Alberto] always loved flying,” his cousin, H. Peralta, told Nine On Your Side via phone from New York Wednesday morning.

In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon, Cherry Point Public Affairs Deputy Director Mike Barton said Bencosme "was beginning a routine training flight when shortly after takeoff, a cockpit caution light illuminated indicating that the aircraft canopy latches may not have been fully seated and a precautionary return to base was initiated. While returning to the air station to have maintenance personnel check the aircraft," the plane crashed.

The investigation into what ultimately caused Bencosme’s Harrier to crash into a field off Hwy 101 between Havelock and Harlowe is ongoing.

Hunters who were in the field say they heard the plane struggling in the air before it crashed. Initial reports from investigators indicate Bencosme tried to glide the jet to the ground in order to avoid any nearby homes.

Peralta says Bencosme was born in the Dominican Republic but moved to New York at a young age. His desire to become a Marine was driven by gratitude to the United States.

“He wanted to give back to the country that gave him so much,” Peralta said.

The 27-year-old Bencosme was just promoted to Captain on Dec. 1, according to his cousin.

His death is even more difficult for his family, Peralta says, because Bencosme’s father died in September.

“This is not something anyone expected to happen,” Peralta said. “It’s just brought everything back. … It’s hard on the family right now, but at least he died doing something he loved to do.”

Peralta says Bencosme’s immediate family now lives in Florida. The fallen Captain is survived by his mother, two brothers and a sister, his cousin says.

Bencosme always overcame whatever challenges were set before him, Peralta says.

“They told him in the Marine Corps that he was initially too tall to fit in the cockpit, and he just figured out a way to lean his body a certain way to fit in the cockpit,” Peralta said. “He was a straight arrow. He was always a go-getter. … Anything he set his mind to, he accomplished it.”

According to Cherry Point, Bencosme enlisted into the Marine Corps in November 1997 in Miami, Fla., and was later commissioned as an officer in November 2004.

During his time in service, he was awarded two Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Stay with Nine On Your Side for the latest on the investigation and for more remembrances of Capt. Bencosme.

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