Tragic NC Plane Crash Near Wright Brothers Memorial Claims 5 Lives, Including Young Child
KILL Devil Hills, North Carolina — Officials reported Sunday that a plane crash on the Outer Banks Saturday afternoon killed five individuals, including a young kid.
According to the Virginian Pilot, the National Transportation and Safety Board stated that the crash near the Wright Brothers National Memorial killed everyone on board a Cirrus SR22.
The National Park Service said that the crash occurred at the airfield for the First Flight Airport, which is adjacent to the Wright Brothers National Memorial near Kill Devil Hills.
The single-engine plane collided with trees shortly before 5:20 p.m. Saturday, plummeted into the woods, and burst into flames, according to CBS affiliate WTKR.
Witnesses told the National Park Service that the plane crashed while making its second approach to the runway.
Video and photographs of the trees surrounding the runway According to the TV station, the scene on Sunday included a pile of “mangled metal and broken glass.”
The jet was on a multi-leg flight that had just departed from Dare County Regional Airport, less than 10 miles distant, before landing at First Flight.
Smoke could be seen for miles as the plane burnt after the crash.
Weather conditions at the airport Saturday evening brought bright sky and winds from the south at roughly 10 mph.
Following the disaster, the airport was closed Saturday night and is expected to reopen Tuesday. The Wright Brothers National Memorial remained closed on Sunday.