SILER CITY, N.C. (WNCN) — A plane crash has resulted in two fatalities in Chatham County on Friday, according to officials with the NC State Highway Patrol.
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday at 12:50 p.m., a single-engine Piper PA-28 aircraft crashed near Siler City Municipal Airport. Two people were on board and are deceased.
From the plane’s flight plan, it appears it was coming in from the Sanford area and was expected to land in Siler City at approximately 1:15 p.m. The plane was under the ownership of Executive Flight Training and Services.
A nearby witness called 911 after seeing “black smoke” coming from the plane. First responders say the plane was engulfed in fire when they arrived.
The Raleigh Executive airport in Sanford, where the plane took off from, posted on Facebook the crash may have involved a pilot and/or passenger working out of that airport.
FAA officials arrived on-site around 3 p.m. and will be leading the investigation into what caused the crash. A preliminary investigative report is expected early next week with their findings.