North Carolina
A look at plane crashes across central North Carolina this year
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Airplane crashes are considered to be a rare occurrence, however, they do happen, particularly with small aircraft.
On Friday, a small plane crashed near an airport in Siler City. Two people were on board the single-engine Piper PA-28 that crashed in a wooded area about a mile from the Siler City Municipal Airport. Two people were killed.
The crash comes just two weeks after a small plane crashed in Franklin County. The pilot was injured in the crash.
Here are some other crashes that happened this year.
On April 5, a single-engine Lancair 360 took off from Lynchburg, Virginia, with a flight plan that had it landing in Ocean Isle Beach. It crash-landed into two vehicles on US-1 in Chatham County after authorities said the plane had a mechanical failure. no injuries were reported.
On April 16, the pilot of another small plane was able to walk away after he crashed in Rocky Mount while trying to make an emergency landing.
In May, three people were injured when the Piper Warrior aircraft they were in crashed in a wooded area and caught on fire in Cumberland County. Officials have not released the cause of the crash.
At Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the most recent crash happened in May. A small plane made a crash landing after the pilot noticed an issue with its front landing gear, There were four people on the flight from Fayetteville. No injuries were reported.
In April, a UNC Air Operations medical plane crashed at RDU injuring a UNC doctor and the pilot. A preliminary investigation said the crash was caused by a failed landing.
Previous crashes at RDU:
In July 2022, a skydiving airplane with damaged landing gear was diverted to RDU and made a hard landing on one of the runways.
Before that plane landed, 23-year-old co-pilot Charles Hew Crooks fell out of the aircraft. His body landed in a Fuquay-Varina neighborhood.
Despite extensive investigating, the NTSB was never able to determine whether Crooks’ fall was accidental or intentional.
Nearly 1.5 years after an airplane pilot fell to his death in a Fuquay-Varina neighborhood, the full circumstances surrounding how and why he fell remain unclear.
In December 1994, American Eagle Flight 3379 crashed into a wooden area about four miles from RDU.
Fifteen of the 20 people onboard that airplane died.
In February 1988, all 12 people on AV Air flight 3378 died when it crashed just minutes after taking off from RDU.
In October 2019, a Piper PA-32 crashed in a wooded area off Umstead Park while approaching the RDU runway. Both people on that plane died.
In July 2000, a twin-engine plane crashed about two miles from the airport. Bad weather was blamed for causing that crash. Three people were on the plane when it went down; two of them survived.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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