Posted on 06/21/2025 1:12:55 PM PDT by BenLurkin
MOCKSVILLE, N.C. — 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 preliminary report.
The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108 and a passenger were killed in the June 3 crash near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, officials said. A second passenger was seriously injured in the crash.
A communications operator looking out the airport office window advised the pilot that there was a turtle on the runway, according to the report released this week. The operator reported that the pilot landed about 1,400 feet down the 2,424-foot runway, then lifted the right main wheel to avoid the turtle. The operator heard the pilot advance the throttle after raising the wheel, but the airplane left her view after that.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
Really? They come up on land with those flippers?
Don Diego:
"Accident?"
Captain Esteban:
"Sí. He was out riding when his horse was frightened by a turtle . . . . . . my friend — I want you to know that the turtle who caused this has been executed."
The turtle was proving to the chickens that it can be done. Opossums have been trying to do this for years.
Be interested to know how large the turtle was before criticizing the pilot.
Around here, we have the maybe 6” box turtled everywhere. Much as I avoid running over them with the car or tractor, not sure I’d risk a landing over one.
OTOH, we have significantly larger turtles I’ve seen. Probably 12” or more and likely with a much tougher shell.
Not sure I’d want to risk hitting one with the landing gear of a light aircraft. There are enough variables to account for during landing without worrying about dodging the living equivalent of a small boulder on the runway.
Thank You Mr. Lazamataz.🤪
Notice the accident occurred in Mocksville, NC, so, yes, he was killed by the Mock Turtle.
Go home, my children ... you have heard enough idiots speak today.
Remembering the old adage about useless things - Airspace above, Runway behind & Fuel trucks on the ground I have to ask ‘WHY did he land a Stinson over halfway down the runway’?
First thing I thought of. One of my favorite movies.
We had a deal with the pigeons. Turtles no deal.
Could have been a lost Terrapin, looking for the nearest fresh water marsh.
It sounds like there was a risk associated with either action, but hitting the turtle was the least risky. He made the wrong choice.
I accidentally hit a lake turtle with my car. It was like hitting a rock.
Thanks for the laugh.
But seriously, I’d like to kn0w whether the turtle surviived.
In the midwest we don’t have alligators, but do have gators(truck tire debris). That is one reason not tailgate, especially this time of the year.
As long as the turtle was hurt...
I always tell the wife, when an animal gets before your car, try a little to brake and swerve to get around it, but just accept the fact that hitting it is far better than ending in the ditch or against a tree.
Wow. During my pilot training, the instructor would often make me do a go-around by saying, “Sorry, herd of turtles on the runway! Go around!”
I guess it could really happen.
“Having a seat nope tire hit a large object during landing could be catastrophic”
Catastophic. Like raising a wheel to avoid running over an animal in a plane. I guess they were doomed either way.
Same as when a deer runs out in front of you on the highway at night.
Your more likely to crash, roll over and and die if you try too hard to avoid it.
Just hold on and hit it square.
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