A tragic plane crash that occurred earlier this month at a small airport in North Carolina may have been triggered by an unexpected obstacle — a turtle on the runway. According to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot of the aircraft attempted to maneuver around the turtle moments before the crash, ultimately leading to a fatal chain of events. The incident happened on June 3 at Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, involving a Stinson 108 Voyager aircraft carrying three individuals. Sadly, the pilot and one passenger lost their lives, while the third passenger sustained serious injuries.
Initial reports from the NTSB revealed that the crash took place during a go-around — a standard aviation maneuver used when a landing attempt is aborted and the pilot chooses to circle back for another approach or fly to an alternate location. Aviation expert Robert Katz, a licensed pilot and flight instructor, explained that a go-around typically occurs when conditions make a safe landing impossible or inadvisable. In this case, it appears that the presence of the turtle prompted the pilot to execute the go-around, resulting in a critical deviation from the flight path.
According to the NTSB’s latest findings, the pilot was warned by a UNICOM operator — a person who communicates local advisories to aircraft — about the turtle’s presence on the runway. A witness working nearby also saw the turtle and noticed the plane responding to it. In an effort to avoid the animal, the pilot reportedly lifted the right main wheel of the plane. As the plane adjusted to this evasive action, eyewitnesses observed the wings beginning to rock, suggesting the aircraft lost some of its balance and stability during the maneuver.
Moments later, the witness lost visual contact with the aircraft as it passed behind a hangar. He then heard a loud crash and saw smoke rising from beyond the tree line. The aircraft had crashed just beyond the airport’s northeast perimeter, coming to rest in a densely wooded area approximately 250 feet from the end of the runway. A fire broke out upon impact, causing significant damage to the aircraft. Debris from the wreckage — some of which was partially melted — has been collected as part of the ongoing investigation.
While the full cause of the crash is still under investigation, this incident highlights how even small, seemingly harmless obstacles on a runway can pose serious risks in aviation. The NTSB will continue to analyze the wreckage and review all flight data to determine the sequence of events that led to this tragic loss. As the community in Mocksville mourns, the incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable challenges pilots may face in the course of routine operations.
