A small private plane crashed in North Carolina on June 3 while avoiding a reptile on the runway, killing two people and seriously injuring one, according to reports.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary aviation investigation report, the plane crash was caused by the pilot attempting to avoid a turtle on the runway at Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville.
A UNICOM operator saw the turtle and alerted the pilot who had landed on the runway. According to the report, the pilot lifted the right main wheel to avoid hitting the reptile.
“The UNICOM operator stated that she heard the pilot advance the throttle after he raised the right wheel,” according to the NTSB report. “The airplane left her point of view, and she was unable to see the airplane after that.”
A witness stated that the plane’s wings “began to rock back and forth” before taking off again. The witness lost sight of the plane after it dipped behind the hanger and disappeared into the trees, according to the report. The witness then “heard a loud crash and saw smoke.”
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the plane was discovered more than 250 feet from the runway’s end.
“The airplane was wedged between several trees and remained in one piece except for a few pieces of fabric that were found in an adjacent stream next to the accident site,” according to the investigation. “The fabric on the fuselage, cowling, and wings was completely burned off and the airplane frame was visible.”
According to the report, the pilot and one of the passengers were killed, while another was severely injured. The identities of the deceased have not been made public.
Mocksville is approximately a 60-mile drive northeast of Charlotte.
Reference: Turtle on runway causes plane crash that leaves two dead in NC, officials say