Tragedy struck the skies above North Carolina’s Outer Banks as a plane crash claimed the lives of five individuals, including a 6-year-old child. The crash occurred late Saturday afternoon when a single-engine Cirrus SR-22 airplane went down in a wooded area at the historic Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport in Kill Devil Hills, according to the National Park Service.
Confirmed by the park service on Tuesday, the four adults on board were identified as Shashwat Ajit Adhikari, 31, from Silver Spring, Maryland; Jason Ray Campbell, 43, and Kate McAllister Neely, 39, both from Southern Pines; and Matthew Arthur Fassnacht, 44, from Marietta, Georgia. The identity of the child has not been released.
With the aim of uncovering the cause of the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the incident. Ryan Enders, an NTSB Aviation Accident Investigator, shared that the aircraft was on a multileg flight from Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo when it attempted to land at Kill Devil Hills. Eyewitnesses reported observing the plane approach the runway, circle, and then divert from its intended path, ultimately crashing into trees and igniting in flames. Notably, no distress calls were made by the pilot before the crash, as disclosed by Enders.
Enders stated that a preliminary report is expected to be released within approximately 10 days, with a comprehensive report on the probable cause to follow at a later date.
The First Flight Airport, situated about 75 miles southeast of Norfolk, holds historical significance, commemorating the site where aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved their first powered flight on December 17, 1903. In the wake of this devastating crash, the airport and the surrounding community mourn the lives lost and await the findings of the investigation to shed light on the tragic events of that fateful day.
