Local

Two injured after plane crash near Mount Ulla

MOUNT ULLA, N.C. — Two people were transported to a hospital after a plane crashed onto a private landing strip, according to officials.

The crash happened on Triplett Road between French Belk Road and Winthrow Creek Road.

The man who owns the property said he's seen a hard landing here before but this is the first real crash he's witnessed in this field.

Wayne McConnell’s family was the first to see if the two passengers were OK. One man was able to get out of the small two-seat aircraft, but the other man said he couldn't feel his legs.

According to McConnell, that man was airlifted to the hospital. He was still conscious after the abrupt crash. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board will determine what caused it.

“It got about due north from us and we heard it go ‘boo da boo da boo.’ So I told my son, he's in trouble,” McConnell said.

McConnell thinks the pilot tried to get the plane back running, and then resorted to slowing down and landing.

McConnell said the plane stalled and then crashed.

"I want to see them both return to the cockpit. They're both fine pilots,” said Ron Henry, a friend of the instructor riding in the back of the two-seater plane.

Henry said both people were experienced pilots.

Henry is a pilot himself. He said that the love of flying keeps them going even when they know there are risks like this.

"This was a magnificent day to fly airplanes. They were enjoying the moment and for one reason or another the moment changed drastically," Henry said.