Kill Devil Hills, NC — A tragic aircraft incident at the Wright Brothers National Memorial resulted in the deaths of five people on Saturday. Authorities reported that a Cirrus SR22, a single-engine plane known for its safety features, crashed during an attempted landing at First Flight Airport around 5 p.m., igniting upon impact in a nearby wooded area.
Witnesses described seeing smoke rising above the trees, a sight shared widely on local social media, indicating the severity of the crash. The accident prompted an immediate response from firefighting teams from Kill Devil Hills and surrounding areas, although the blaze had already caused substantial destruction by the time they arrived.
The National Park Service, overseeing the site of the nation’s first powered flight, announced a temporary closure of the memorial on Sunday to address the aftermath and support the ongoing investigation. The crash site, now scarred and charred, was obscured by dense forest, complicating efforts to understand the full scope of the tragedy.
Leading the investigation are the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which have yet to determine the crash’s cause. Early efforts include gathering evidence from the wreckage and interviewing potential witnesses to piece together the aircraft’s final moments.
Initial reports suggest the aircraft had traveled from Pinehurst, NC, with stops at Ocracoke and Manteo before its ill-fated landing attempt. The flight path and recent stops are likely to be crucial components of the investigative process.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial, while a historical beacon of aviation achievement, has not been a stranger to aircraft mishaps, though none in recent memory have been as deadly as this incident.
The involved aircraft, the Cirrus SR22, is equipped with advanced features including a parachute system designed to enhance survivability in emergencies. Despite these precautions, the severity of this crash led to catastrophic results.
Ownership records reveal the aircraft was registered to Pantheon Aviation LLC, though further specifics about the operator and the identities of those aboard have not been released, pending family notifications.
As the community mourns, the thorough investigation underway aims to provide answers to the grieving families and ensure the future safety of aviation activities in this historically significant area. The analysis of this tragic event is expected to continue over several weeks, with officials hopeful to provide some closure to this devastating event.