Pilot Killed in Small Plane Crash in North Carolina Raised a Wheel to Avoid a Turtle, NTSB Says

Pilot Killed in Small Plane Crash in North Carolina Raised a Wheel to Avoid a Turtle, NTSB Says
The seal of the National Transportation Safety Board is seen before a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo
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MOCKSVILLE, N.C.—The pilot of a small plane that crashed near a North Carolina airport this month had raised a wheel after landing to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report.

The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108 and a passenger were killed in the June 3 crash near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, officials said. A second passenger was seriously injured in the crash.