By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MOUNT WASHINGTON - Scott Andrew Knabe, who went from being a tax examiner and accountant for the city of Cincinnati to a pilot for Colgan Air, died Tuesday when the commuter plane he was flying crashed off Cape Cod. He was 39.

Mr. Knabe was flying a 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D with First Officer Steven Dean, 38, of Euless, Texas. They were taking the plane to another location. No passengers were aboard.

Shortly after taking off from Hyannis, Mass., Mr. Knabe radioed in an emergency and turned the plane around, but it went down in the Atlantic Ocean about 250 yards from shore.

Born in Cincinnati in 1963, he was the son of Edna Alice Knabe of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Dr. Robert Knabe, who died in 1990.

He graduated from Greenhills High School and received an accounting degree from Ohio State University.

Mr. Knabe had a taste for excitement and speed.

A fan of auto racing, he served with a pit crew at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for several years, according to his mother.

He worked for Cincinnati from 1988 until 1994, when he decided that time was running out to pursue his interest in flying.

"He just wanted to fly and wanted to do it before he got too old," his mother said.

Mr. Knabe studied aeronautics and propulsion at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and took a job as a first officer for Colgan Air, based in Manassas, Va.

Upgraded to captain in January, he had 2,886 hours of flying time - 1,358 in the Beechcraft 1900.

Although he was based in Hyannis, Mr. Knabe still lived in Mount Washington.

He had last spoken to his mother in June or July. She found out about his death when a representative of Colgan called her Tuesday night.

In addition to his mother, survivors include: his girlfriend, Lisa Weiler; and a brother, Craig Knabe of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

The remains will be cremated. A memorial service will be held later.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com