Latest news with #Mocksville
The Sun
23-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Two killed and one injured in plane crash after pilot lost control while trying to dodge a turtle on the runway
TWO people have been killed in a plane crash after lifting a wheel to dodge a turtle on the runway earlier this month. The small private plane had already landed when the pilot lost control of the aircraft, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report released on Friday. 2 The pilot and a passenger were killed when the plane crashed in a wooded area near Sugar Valley Airport in North Carolina and burst into flames on June 3. A second passenger was severely injured in the crash. A communications officer looking out the airport office window advised the pilot that the reptile was on the runway as he prepared to land, the NTSB said. The pilot touched down about 1,400 feet down the 2,424-foot runway at the airport in Mocksville, which is 60 miles north of Charlotte. To avoid hitting the turtle, the pilot lifted the right wheel of the Universal Stinson 108 plane and pushed the throttle forward, the NTSB said. The communications officer said she heard the throttle advance and then lost sight of the plane. The report said a man cutting grass at the end of the runway said he saw the pilot lift the wheel over the turtle. He then saw the plane's wings rocking as it flew back into the air. The man said he lost sight of the plane in the sky before hearing a loud crash and seeing smoke billowing. The plane crashed in a wooded area about 255 feet past the runway. Light plane crashes near Boston leaving one person dead and second fighting for their life as feds launch probe It caught on fire and was wedged between several trees, the NTSB said. It's unclear if the pilot's decision to raise the wheel caused the crash. TRAGIC AFTERMATH The report said some of the plane's body was burned and left the frame exposed. The report said some of the plane's outer material burned through and left the frame exposed. However, the plane was left in one piece except for a few pieces of fabric found in a stream near the accident site. The airplane was lying on its left side. The wreckage and engine were kept for investigation. The victims haven't been identified by the NTSB. The NTSB also didn't list a probable cause for the crash and didn't immediately return The U.S. Sun's request for comment. The probable cause for the crash will be included in the final reports of the incident, which can take up to two years to complete.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- General
- New York Times
Pilot Killed in Plane Crash Had Lifted Wheel to Dodge a Turtle, N.T.S.B. Says
The pilot of a small plane who was killed in a crash this month in North Carolina had lifted a wheel after landing to spare a turtle on the runway, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report released on Friday. The pilot and one passenger were killed when the plane crashed just before noon on June 3 near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, N.C., about 60 miles north of Charlotte, the report said. Another passenger was severely injured. The N.T.S.B. said in its report that a communications officer pointed out the turtle to the pilot as the plane returned to the airport and turned to prepare to land on a runway. The pilot landed but then lifted the Universal Stinson 108 plane's right wheel to avoid the turtle. The communications operator reported that she heard the pilot advance the throttle after lifting the wheel. She said that she lost sight of the plane after that. A man cutting the grass at the end of the runway said that he saw the pilot lift the wheel to spare the turtle, the report said. He then saw the plane's wings begin to rock back and forth before it took off again. The man lost sight of the plane after it passed behind a hangar, but said he heard a loud crash and saw smoke, according to the report. The plane crashed in a heavily forested area about 250 feet past the runway and caught fire. It was wedged between several trees and remained intact aside from a few pieces of fabric, the report said. It was unclear whether the pilot's decision to lift the tire to avoid the turtle caused the crash. The N.T.S.B., which said it does not identify the victims in its reports, did not list a probable cause. A final N.T.S.B. report on the crash could take one to two years to complete, the board said. The registered owner of the plane listed on a Federal Aviation Administration website did not immediately respond to a phone message on Friday seeking comment.
Washington Post
20-06-2025
- Washington Post
Pilot killed in small plane crash in North Carolina raised a wheel to avoid a turtle, NTSB says
MOCKSVILLE, N.C. — The pilot of a small plane that crashed near a North Carolina airport this month had raised a wheel after landing to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report. The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108 and a passenger were killed in the June 3 crash near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, officials said. A second passenger was seriously injured in the crash.
South China Morning Post
20-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Pilot who died in North Carolina plane crash was trying to avoid hitting turtle on runway
The pilot of a small plane that crashed near a North Carolina airport this month had raised a wheel after landing to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report. The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108 and a passenger were killed in the June 3 crash near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, officials said. A second passenger was seriously injured in the crash. A communications operator looking out the airport office window advised the pilot that there was a turtle on the runway, according to the report released this week. The operator reported that the pilot landed about 427 metres (1,400 feet) down the 739-metre (2,424-foot) runway, then lifted the right main wheel to avoid the turtle. The operator heard the pilot advance the throttle after raising the wheel, but the plane left her view after that. A man cutting the grass at the end of the runway reported seeing the pilot raise the right wheel to avoid the turtle, then the wings rocked back and forth and the plane took off again, according to the report.
Al Arabiya
20-06-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In North Carolina Raised A Wheel To Avoid A Turtle, NTSB Says
The pilot of a small plane that crashed near a North Carolina airport this month had raised a wheel after landing to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report. The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108 and a passenger were killed in the June 3 crash near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, officials said. A second passenger was seriously injured in the crash. A communications operator looking out the airport office window advised the pilot that there was a turtle on the runway, according to the report released this week. The operator reported that the pilot landed about 1,400 feet (427 meters) down the 2,424-foot (739-meter) runway, then lifted the right main wheel to avoid the turtle. The operator heard the pilot advance the throttle after raising the wheel, but the airplane left her view after that. A man cutting the grass at the end of the runway reported seeing the pilot raise the right wheel to avoid the turtle. Then the wings rocked back and forth, and the plane took off again, according to the report. The man lost sight of the plane, and then he heard a crash and saw smoke. The plane crashed in a heavily forested area about 255 feet (78 meters) from the runway and caught fire, officials said. The plane was wedged between several trees and remained in one piece except for a few pieces of fabric found in a nearby stream. It came to rest on its left side with the left wing folded underneath the fuselage and the right wing bent toward the tail. Preliminary reports contain facts collected on scene but don't speculate on probable causes, according to the NTSB's website. Those are included in final reports, which can take one to two years to complete.
