Two dead in plane crash near Siler City airport, NCSHP says

Sanika Bhargaw, Kathryn Hubbard and Ashley Anderson

10 minutes ago

SILER CITY, N.C. (WNCN) — A plane crash killed two people Friday in Chatham County, according to officials with the NC State Highway Patrol.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced at 12:50 p.m. Friday that a single-engine Piper PA-28 plane crashed near the Siler City Municipal Airport. Two people were on board and died.

Based on the plane's flight plan, it appears that it was arriving from the Sanford area and was scheduled to land in Siler City around 1:15 p.m. The plane belonged to Executive Flight Training and Services.

A nearby witness called 911 after seeing “black smoke” coming from the plane. First responders said the plane was engulfed in fire when they arrived.

Raleigh Executive Airport in Sanford, where the plane took off, posted on Facebook that the accident may have involved a pilot and/or passenger working at that airport.

FAA officials arrived on scene around 3 p.m. and will investigate the causes of the accident. A preliminary investigation report is expected early next week with its findings.