Part 2/10:
At the helm of Flight 90 was Captain Larry Wheaton, a 34-year-old pilot with an extensive flight record of over 8,000 hours, mostly in warmer climates. However, his recent history told a contrasting story. Just two years prior, Wheaton had been suspended for deficiencies in key flying skills, and he had recently struggled with proficiency evaluations. This checkered history positioned him awkwardly for the challenging conditions he was about to face.