Pilot killed in North Carolina plane crash was trying to avoid turtle on runway, report shows

Small plane had raised a wheel after landing to keep from killing animal, and then took off again before crashing

The pilot of a small plane that crashed near a North Carolina airport this month had raised a wheel after landing to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report.

The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108, a single-engine, four-seat aircraft, and a passenger were killed in the 3 June crash near Sugar Valley airport in Mocksville, officials said. A second passenger was seriously injured in the crash.