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.
Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — The Myrtle Beach Police Department announced Monday the arrest of a man wanted in North Carolina.
Officers arrested Leko Jones, 46, who was wanted by authorities in Burlington, North Carolina, according to the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
Jones is charged with attempted first-degree murder and assault by strangulation.
The arrest resulted from a coordinated effort between the Myrtle Beach Police Department’s Patrol Division and Investigations Division, working alongside the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Investigators said they safely located Jones and took him into custody.
A section of E. 4th Street in Washington will close next week for sewer line replacement work.
According to the city, E. 4th Street from Hudnell Street to Aycock Street will be closed to local traffic on Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
PINE KNOLL SHORES, Carteret County — A longtime Pine Knoll Shores public servant is preparing to begin a new chapter after nearly two decades with the town.
Ryan Thompson announced he will leave his full-time role with the Town of Pine Knoll Shores on August 12 after 18 years of service.
Thompson said he first came to Pine Knoll Shores in 2008 and has served the town in several roles, including police officer, chief of police, assistant town manager and most recently interim town manager.
In a message shared by the Pine Knoll Shores Police Department, Thompson said serving the community has been the greatest honor of his professional career.
Town of Pine Knoll Shores announces Ryan Thompson to depart after 18 years
He reflected on working alongside first responders through several hurricanes and coastal emergencies over the years, including Irene, Arthur, Matthew, Florence, Dorian, Isaias, Ophelia and Debby.
Thompson also highlighted the community’s response after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina in 2024. He said Pine Knoll Shores helped raise nearly $20,000 to support people impacted by the storm.
Thompson said Pine Knoll Shores has also been a special place for his family. His son served as a part-time firefighter with the Pine Knoll Shores Fire Department, and his wife served as the town’s tax collector.
Although he is leaving his full-time role, Thompson said he is not saying goodbye to the town.
He will begin serving as a public safety risk management consultant with the North Carolina League of Municipalities. He said the new role will allow him to work with cities and towns across the state to help support public safety and local governments.
Thompson also said he will remain with the Pine Knoll Shores Police Department as a part-time police officer.
He said he will also continue helping the town during its transition as Pine Knoll Shores begins the search for its next police chief and works through the town manager transition.
Captain Eric Tellefsen will become interim chief of police after Thompson’s departure.
Thompson said he is confident in the department’s leadership team and thanked the Pine Knoll Shores community for its trust, support and friendship over the past 18 years.
-
New Jersey6 minutes agoNJ fines Sen. Wimberly $24K after use of donations for hotels, airfare
-
New Mexico12 minutes agoNew Mexico wants to get orphaned wells plugged — but did contractors get the word?
-
North Carolina18 minutes agoNorth Carolina attempted murder suspect arrested in Myrtle Beach
-
North Dakota24 minutes agoFamilies allege babies were switched at Grafton hospital
-
Ohio30 minutes ago9 indicted for allegedly being part of human trafficking ring in Ohio
-
Oklahoma36 minutes agoOklahoma senator renews push for new agency that focuses on child welfare services
-
Oregon42 minutes agoOregon Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of Multnomah County’s Flavored Tobacco Vape Ban
-
Pennsylvania48 minutes agoHere’s what’s in — and not in — Pennsylvania’s $50.8 billion state budget
