Tragic Plane Crash Claims Five Lives on Outer Banks

Tragic Plane Crash Claims Five Lives on Outer Banks

KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC – A heartbreaking scene unfolded on the Outer Banks as a small plane crash led to the loss of five lives, including a young child. The incident occurred on Saturday, September 28, around 5:55 PM, near the iconic Wright Brothers National Memorial, a site known for celebrating aviation history.

Details of the Crash

The ill-fated flight involved a Cirrus SR22 plane that went down in a wooded area adjacent to the memorial’s First Flight Airport. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to be attempting to land but lost altitude far too quickly, resulting in tragedy. One witness, *Nadia Popruzhenko*, described the plane’s descent, saying, “At the beginning, I thought he was really high, and all of a sudden, he just went down a little too quick. It was too low.”

The First Flight Airport, with its single asphalt runway measuring 3,000 feet long and 60 feet wide, is a bustling hub for aviation enthusiasts and tourists alike. It sits right next to the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which is only separated by a few small patches of woods—making this incident all the more shocking for those visiting the historical site.

Victims Identified

As authorities pieced together details about the crash, they confirmed the identities of the four adults who tragically lost their lives: Shashwat Ajit Adhikari, 31, from Silver Spring, Maryland; Jason Ray Campbell, 43, of Southern Pines; Kate McAllister Neely, 39, of Southern Pines; and Matthew Arthur Fassnacht, 44, from Marietta, Georgia. Sadly, the identity of the 6-year-old child has not yet been released, leaving the community in mourning and reflecting on this unimaginable loss.

Investigation Underway

In the aftermath of the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has stepped in to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Both the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the First Flight Airport were closed to the public on Sunday, September 29, as officials gathered evidence and spoke to witnesses.

The emotional toll of this tragedy is significant, particularly for those who visited the memorial that day, a place where the Wright brothers once conducted groundbreaking experiments in the early days of flight. Today, it stands as a testament to human ingenuity and determination, but it is now etched in the memories of visitors with an overshadow of sorrow.

A Community in Mourning

The Outer Banks is a close-knit community and tragedies like this resonate deeply. Many visitors and locals alike have expressed their shock and sympathies, remembering those who perished and the joyful new beginnings that are now forever marred by this incident. Community support and heartfelt prayers are what many residents are focusing on as they grapple with the enormity of what has occurred.

As the investigation unfolds and details emerge, the hope is that through understanding what happened, such a tragedy may be prevented in the future. For now, the thoughts and prayers of the community are with the families affected and those who witnessed this tragic event.

In remembrance of those lost, the stories of their lives will survived alongside the memories of laughter and love, a reminder that while aviation can take us to great heights, it can also remind us of the fragility of life.