2 men dead in small plane crash
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, said Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. (Photo courtesy of WCNC)
TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. -- A small plane crashed on a rural airfield Thursday, killing a doctor and a retired airline pilot, authorities said.
Dr. Walter Long Jr., 75, and his friend, Bennie Hall Sharpe, 70, were pronounced dead at the scene. Alexander County Sheriff Hayden Bentley, who knew both men, said it wasn't clear who was flying the single-engine Cessna 182C, which seats four people.
The two men were "longtime friends who flew together a lot," Bentley said. "They were well known, well liked in the community. It's a great loss to our county."
The Civil Air Patrol received a signal sent by the plane, indicating the plane was missing, and filed a report Thursday afternoon that the plane was overdue, authorities said.
Statesville-based pilot Phil Hazel spotted the wreckage at Gryer-Teague airstrip, a grass landing field near Taylorsville, said state Highway Patrol Sgt. Eric Harris.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, said Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The state's Emergency Operations Center said the plane was headed from Taylorsville to Statesville.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, Harris said.
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