A single-engine Cirrus SR22 aircraft, carrying five individuals, crashed at the First Flight Airport within the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina on the afternoon of Saturday, September 28, 2024. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the crash happened around 5 p.m. during the plane’s landing attempt. Four adults and a child have been reported dead.
Eyewitnesses told the National Park Service that the plane crashed into a densely wooded area close to the airport and was immediately engulfed in flames. Images shared on Outer Banks Facebook groups showed smoke rising high above the tree line, visible for miles.
Firefighters from Kill Devil Hills and surrounding fire departments promptly responded, extinguishing the fire. However, the damage had already been inflicted. Drone footage captured the following morning gave a glimpse of the extensive devastation, although the wreckage was largely obscured by the thick tree canopy.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations into the crash. As of now, the cause of the crash remains undetermined. However, investigators are gathering evidence and conducting interviews to determine the factors leading to the plane’s descent.
The plane originated from Pinehurst, NC, with stops in Ocracoke and Manteo before the fatal crash.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The Wright Brothers National Memorial has been the site of several aviation-related incidents, including a number of minor crashes and emergency landings over the years.
The crashed aircraft, a Cirrus SR22 known for its advanced safety features like a built-in parachute system, was registered to a private owner, Pantheon Aviation LLC. The victims were identified as Shashwat Ajit Adhikari, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Jason Ray Campbell, 43, Southern Pines, North Carolina; Kate McAllister Neely, 39, of Southern Pines, North Carolina; Matthew Arthur Fassnacht, 44, of Marietta, Georgia; and a 6-year-old child, whose name was not provided.
The investigation into the crash is anticipated to take several weeks.
