NEW LONDON — A small plane carrying a student pilot and an instructor crashed in New London on Monday afternoon just minutes after takeoff from the Stanly County Airport.
Officials say the two passengers were treated and taken to Atrium Health Cabarrus after sustaining injuries ranging from mild to serious in nature.
According to flight tracking data, the plane was a fixed-wing single-engine with the tail number N98134 and departed the airport around 4:26 p.m.
After experiencing sudden engine failure, the plane went down at 4:30 p.m. and landed in a field at Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Barnhardt, located at 44184 Cannon Road.
While the passengers initially attempted to return to the airport, they reportedly aimed for a field upon realizing they lacked enough time to make it back safely. The crash site is approximately one mile north of the Stanly County Airport.
Officials from the United States Air Force Fire Department, Badin Volunteer Fire Department and Stanly County Sheriff’s Office each responded to the scene.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol, Federal Aviation Administration, and National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the cause of the crash.