NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Gray's Creek Plane Crash
An airplane passenger seated in the cockpit next to a flight instructor grabbed the control yoke, causing a crash at Gray's Creek Airport on Feb. 17 that injured four people, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The plane went to a near-vertical position before stalling and crashing next to the adjacent runway, according to the NTSB report.
The investigation revealed that the fuselage and both wings were damaged and the propeller separated from the engine, according to an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Keith Holloway, a spokesman for the NTSB, said Friday at it could take 12 to 24 months to complete the investigation. He said any disciplinary action would come from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Efforts to reach the FAA were unsuccessful Friday.
The flight was part of a career day for students exploring careers in aviation. The program is run through the Cumberland County Workforce Development Center.
The pilot was Jacob Parsons, who was provided by the vendor for the career day, Cape Fear Aviation Maintenance, according to Sally Shutt, the spokeswoman for Cumberland County.
One of those injured, Dominique Northcutt, 25, of the 9400 block of Gooden Drive, remains at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill in critical condition, according to her mother, Jerolyn Northcutt.
Others injured in the crash were:
? Parsons, 19, of the 5300 block of Butler Nursery Road.
? Vanessa Leal, 18, of the 6500 block of Northwest Drive.
? Justin Elliott, 24, of the 9100 block of Colliers Chapel Church Road.
Staff writer Melody Brown-Peyton can be reached at [email protected] or 910-486-3568.
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