A tragic plane crash in North Carolina claimed the lives of a pilot and one passenger after a small aircraft attempted to dodge a turtle on the runway, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The accident occurred on June 3 at Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, where a Universal Stinson 108 airplane was taking off. After circling the traffic pattern, the aircraft touched down roughly 1,400 feet along the 2,424-foot runway. Moments later, the pilot lifted the right main wheel—reportedly to avoid a turtle spotted on the ground.
The airport’s UNICOM operator told investigators she heard the engine rev up again just after the pilot maneuvered to clear the turtle. Shortly after, the aircraft disappeared from her line of sight.
A groundskeeper nearby said the plane “disappeared just over the trees on the northeast side of the runway,” followed by the sound of an impact and visible smoke rising from the crash site.
According to the NTSB, the plane went down in a dense forest area about 255 feet northeast of the runway and ignited a fire upon impact. The wreckage was found with the left wing crushed beneath the fuselage and the right wing bent backwards.
Two people died in the crash, including the pilot, while a third passenger was seriously injured. Their names have not yet been released.
The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration are continuing the investigation and have retained the aircraft and its engine for further analysis.
