Former race team pilot killed in Union County plane crash

UNION COUNTY — A pilot died Thursday night after his plane crashed in a wooded area in Union County, authorities said.

Officials identified the pilot as Jim Cook, 68, of Lexington, N.C., Cook reported engine problems before the plane went down.

Investigators said he was the only person on board.

Union County deputies found the single-engine plane in the woods Thursday night, near Tarlton Mill and New Salem Road in Marshville.

Officials said Cook was flying from Daytona to Lexington and had dropped off a client when he crashed just before 7 p.m.

Deputies said he had reported engine trouble.

Cook was a long time pilot for Richard Childress Racing. He retired from the race team and was working part-time for various corporate customers.

He often flew the race team to and from Daytona.

The sheriff said that the plane nose-dived into the ground, but that it was pretty much intact.

The plane crashed about 60 yards from Terry Brooks’ back door.

"It was more than just a thud,” Brooks said. “It was almost like a small explosion."

Brooks didn't realize what happened until emergency crews showed up.

"It's tragic," he said.

The NTSB checked out the plane Friday for any obvious signs that might explain what caused the engine trouble that caught an experienced pilot off guard.

They will have to examine the black box to get a better understanding.

The FAA also sent team of investigators to the scene Friday to determine exactly what caused the crash.

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