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 ...
This. I was driving home the other day in broad daylight and a mother raccoon tried to cross the road with one of her babies in her mouth. I had two seconds to react. I could either flip my vehicle avoiding them or I could proceed. I am still here. But those low aerodynamic panels below the radiator was their demise.
I’d be concerned that the turtle would take out the wheel or gear. Also a potential catastrophic incident. Small plane.
How big was the turtle? Honestly a big enough would be a bad idea to run over, especially if it’s not a rough terrain plane.
So two people died and a $100,000 dollar plane destroyed because those cheap bastards refused to install less than 5000 feet of chicken wire fencing to prevent small critters from crossing the runway.
Most turtles don’t have flippers. Sea turtles are pretty much the only ones with flippers.
My MIL had a pet turtle (ok, tortoise). It outlived her. We rehomed it at an animal sanctuary because Mrs R feared that a gator would get it if we just released it in a wild pond or bayou.
Tortoises are much more common in arid climates. N.C. is swampy and only has turtles.
No. Just like when you flatten a squirrel with you car. Turtles flatten nicely.
Don’t snap at me for saying so but that was good.
It had that usual “turtle in the headlights” look.
Pilots and car drivers see that from time to time.
A gator will munch a turtle like a chocolate covered cherry.
I avoid road lobsters. = escaped mufflers in the road.
Odd that this plane story happens when more and more people are debating on TV about states that have conflicting laws about whether you have to stop for a Dem woke protestor or for a mob of violent ones trying to rock your car and pull you out to beat you to death.
One of the BLM Portland atrocities was a husband, wife and little girl who couldn’t back out after thinking a street was still open to avoid the fires in the buildings. It was newly becoming part of the A grinning, laughing mob broke their windows and terrorized them, finally pulling each out to throw onto the street. A breakaway small group of leftists started arguing and the mob let them run away. Quick report later was “police made no arrests.”
This was one of the autonomous zones. The Patrick Kimmons Autonomous Zone (PKAZ), “named after a man killed by police.” Not the other one, the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ).
Sorry for the broken up post.
One of the reasons I use Waze. Often get gator warnings (hazard in road).
A friend owns a Carbon Cub with the big balloon field landing tires. I’m going to say it could handle hitting the turtle in question.
That remote possibility is why my reload is a G18 mag.
Good idea.
For car carry, it seems like a no-brainer. Many agree when I present the idea.
Currently being treated for Post Turtle Stress Disorder.
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