Overview

• The Universal Stinson 108 crashed on June 3 at Sugar Valley Airport near Mocksville, North Carolina, killing the pilot and one passenger and severely injuring another.
• The pilot landed about 1,400 feet down the 2,424-foot runway before lifting the right main wheel in response to an airport operator’s warning of a turtle ahead.
• After the avoidance maneuver, the aircraft briefly climbed before disappearing behind a hangar and crashing about 225 feet beyond the runway into a wooded area where it ignited.
• Investigators observed that the fabric on the fuselage, cowling and wings was burned away, leaving the airplane frame visible and confirming its destruction by impact and post-crash fire.
• The NTSB investigation remains open as officials examine whether additional factors contributed to the loss of control beyond the turtle avoidance.