Friends, family say plane crash victim was experienced pilot

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Friends and family of a man who was killed in a Rowan County plane crash said he was an experienced pilot who loved to fly.

The crash happened near Old Stone House Road near Granite Quarry around 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said 49-year-old Dwayne Brown was the pilot killed in the crash.

Family members said the plane he was in was his pride and joy.

"I loved him. I miss him. I wish he was here," said Eddie Martin, Brown's uncle.

Martin went to the crash site Monday to say his goodbyes.

"If he has to be gone, I want to remember him for all the good things he did," Martin said.

Throughout the morning Monday, other people who knew Brown stopped by. They told Eyewitness News that flying was Brown's passion and that he was an experienced pilot, which makes the news so shocking to them.

FAA investigators were on the scene for a couple of hours Monday trying to figure out what caused the crash. Witnesses said they saw the plane sputtering, hit a power line and then go down. Several people ran to help and others called 911.

Martin said he wants people to know Brown was more than a thrill-seeker. He was also devoted to a large extended family. He wasn't married and didn't have kids but put his parents, brother and many friends first.

Family and friends said Brown owned an air conditioning and heating company.

Martin said that Brown thought nothing of going out in the middle of the night to make sure someone else had heat.

"He would help anyone in any way he could. He was a treasure," Martin said.

WSOC