Pilot killed in North Carolina plane crash while trying to save Turtle on runway

A small plane crash near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, North Carolina, on June 3, 2025, that killed the pilot and a passenger, and seriously injured another passenger, was caused by the pilot's attempt to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report.

The pilot was landing a Universal Stinson 108 aircraft on the 2,424-foot runway when a communications operator at the airport alerted him to the presence of a turtle on the runway. The pilot landed approximately 1,400 feet down the runway and then raised the right main wheel to avoid the turtle. After lifting the wheel, the pilot advanced the throttle, and the plane began to take off again.

A witness cutting grass near the runway saw the pilot raise the right wheel and observed the plane's wings rocking back and forth before it took off again. The witness then lost sight of the aircraft as it passed behind a hangar, heard a loud crash, and saw smoke rising.


The plane crashed about 225 to 255 feet northeast of the runway in a heavily forested area, where it caught fire. The aircraft came to rest on its left side with the left wing folded under the fuselage and the right wing bent toward the tail. It was wedged between several trees and remained largely intact except for some fabric found in a nearby stream. The fuselage, cowling, and wings were completely burned off, exposing the airplane frame.

The NTSB's preliminary report contains facts collected at the scene but does not speculate on probable causes. The final investigation report, which can take one to two years to complete, will provide a detailed analysis of the crash cause.

This tragic accident highlights the unexpected hazards wildlife can pose to aviation safety, even at small airports.