Craig Hutain, the sole pilot and fatality aboard the Bell P-63, had started flying solo at the age of 17 and was a former commercial pilot for Rocky Mountain Airways (1982–1985) and United Airlines (1985–2022). Hutain started flying as a child with his father, a World War II veteran, and had been a pilot for the Tora!

In the most notable recent incident involving a P-63 Kingcobra, which occurred at the "Wings Over Dallas" airshow in November 2022, the pilot unfortunately did not survive. The accident involved a mid-air collision between a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra. Both aircraft were part of the Commemorative Air Force. The collision was catastrophic, resulting in the loss of all six crew members involved—five on the B-17 and the lone pilot of the P-63. The pilot of the P-63 was identified as Craig Hutain, a highly experienced aviator who had flown for major airlines and had thousands of hours of experience in vintage military aircraft. The P-63 is a particularly challenging aircraft to fly due to its unique engine placement behind the pilot and limited visibility in certain maneuvers. The NTSB investigation into the crash focused on various factors including altitude deconfliction and air boss communications. This tragedy was a significant blow to the warbird community, as the P-63 is a rare aircraft with only a few still in flying condition worldwide. Every flight of such vintage machinery carries inherent risks, which these dedicated pilots accept to keep aviation history alive for the public.