this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2025
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Pilot killed in North Carolina plane crash was trying to avoid turtle on runway, report shows (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 month ago by cm0002@lemmy.world to c/usa@midwest.social
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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 (NTSB) preliminary report.

The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108, a single-engine, four-seat aircraft, and a passenger were killed in the 3 June crash near Sugar Valley airport in Mocksville, officials said. A second passenger was seriously injured in the crash.

A communications operator looking out of the airport office window advised the pilot that there was a turtle on the runway, according to the report released this week. The operator reported that the pilot landed about 1,400ft down the 2,424ft runway, then lifted the right main wheel to avoid the turtle. The operator heard the pilot advance the throttle after raising the wheel, but the airplane left her view after that.

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[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Turtle tenacity is real. Found a large turtle walking into my fence like it was going to get out of its ways any minute. Turned it around and it went right back to the fence. Had to carry it across my yard, where I presume it was trying to get, before it moved on.