Pilot killed in North Carolina plane crash was trying to avoid turtle on runway, report shows

The recent crash of a small plane in North Carolina has been attributed to the pilot's attempt to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway. According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the incident occurred at Sugar Valley airport in Mocksville on June 3. The pilot, flying a Universal Stinson 108, had just landed the aircraft when a communications operator, who was monitoring the runway, alerted him about the turtle. The pilot proceeded to land approximately 1,400 feet down the 2,424-foot runway and, in an effort to avoid the turtle, raised the right main wheel. Following this maneuver, witnesses reported hearing the pilot advance the throttle, indicating an attempt to take off again. However, the aircraft subsequently left the operator's line of sight, leading to tragic outcomes for those on board.

Witness accounts provide further details about the moments leading up to the crash. A man who was mowing grass at the end of the runway observed the plane raise its right wheel and noted that the wings began to rock before the aircraft took off again. Shortly after, he heard a crash and saw smoke rising from the crash site, which was located approximately 255 feet from the runway in a densely wooded area. The aircraft was found wedged between trees, with significant damage, including its left wing folded beneath the fuselage. While preliminary reports gather factual information from the scene, they do not determine probable causes, leaving that analysis for the final reports, which can take considerable time to complete. The crash resulted in the deaths of the pilot and one passenger, while a second passenger sustained serious injuries, highlighting the tragic consequences of this unusual incident involving wildlife on the runway.