On June 3, 2023, a small plane, the Universal Stinson 108, crashed near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, North Carolina, resulting in the fatalities of the pilot and one passenger, while another passenger sustained serious injuries. According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot raised a wheel upon landing in an attempt to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, as alerted by a communications operator observing from the airport office.
The operator noted that the plane landed approximately 1,400 feet down the 2,424-foot runway. After the pilot advanced the throttle following the adjustment, the aircraft was seen rocking back and forth before it lost altitude and veered off the runway. A witness, who was mowing grass at the end of the runway, also observed the pilot attempting to avoid the turtle. Subsequently, he heard a crash and saw smoke.
The plane ultimately crashed into a densely wooded area approximately 255 feet from the end of the runway, igniting a fire. It remained largely intact despite being wedged between trees, with damage primarily limited to some fabric debris found in a nearby stream. The NTSB’s preliminary report includes collected facts from the scene but does not provide an analysis of probable causes; such details will be included in the final report, which may take one to two years to complete.
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