UPDATE: Victim in deadly plane crash identified
Posted: September 11, 2015
By: Anna Thompson
Connect
By: Jon Evans
Wreckage from the plane crash. (Source: Chief Steve Camlin of Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire Dept.)
Officials have confirmed one man died when a small plane crashed off Old Lake Road in the Riegelwood area of Columbus County (Source: WECT) COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) -
Emergency officials confirmed one person has died when a small plane crashed into some woods Friday in Riegelwood. Chief Steve Camlin of Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire and Rescue said crews found a man dead inside the wreckage of the plane, which was off Old Lake Road.
North Carolina Highway Patrol said the victim was Gene Pierce, 76, from Chinquapin in Duplin County.
According to Camlin, Pierce was flying to Wallace, when he discovered that his plane was having problems. When he tried to turn his plane back to the airport, the plane went down. Camlin said the plane appeared to have been developing engine troubles. Pierce died from the impact.
A resident of Columbus County said he may have heard the plane crash not far from his home. Johnny Herring said the plane flew low above his house, but didn't sound like it was sputtering or having trouble. Another resident said he saw the plane circling the woods a couple times, and then it sounded like the engine stopped.
Camlin said investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration were on the scene Saturday.
Stay with WECT for more details on this developing story.
| Date: | 11-SEP-2015 |
| Time: | 07:19 p.m. |
| Type: | light aircraft |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | |
| C/n / msn: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Columbus County, NC -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | |
| Departure airport: | |
The plane crashed shortly after takeoff, obviously due to a technical failure or pilot error. The pilot died in the crash.
Sources:
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=179508 http://www.wect.com/story/30014170/possible-downed-plane-in-columbus-county