Saturday, May 22, 2021

Flight Design CTSW, N708JM: Fatal accident occurred May 22, 2021 at South Oaks Aerodrome (05N), Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina 


Location: Winterville, NC 
Accident Number: ERA21FA225
Date & Time: May 22, 2021, 17:42 Local 
Registration: N708JM
Aircraft: Flight Design CTSW 
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 22, 2021, about 1742 eastern daylight time, a Flight Design CTSW, N708JM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Winterville, North Carolina. The sport pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to family members and individuals at South Oaks Aerodrome (05N), Winterville, North Carolina, the pilot departed 05N earlier that day about 0930, and flew to Cape Fear Regional Jetport/Howie Franklin Field Airport (SUT), Oak Island, North Carolina, to visit with relatives.

According to Federal Aviation Administration uncorrelated radar track data, the flight departed runway 23 at SUT about 1627. After takeoff the flight turned left to a northeast heading for about 21 nautical miles, it then turned slightly left to a north-northeast heading and proceeded toward 05N.

While enroute to 05N, the passenger sent her son a text message which stated, “It is 5:27 right now and we are 12 minutes from landing in Ayden. Had a headwind that slowed us down a little bit. Will text when we get settled….” The flight continued towards 05N but the radar track data was lost at 1735:52, when the flight was about 6.2 nautical miles and 181° from 05N.

According to video recorded from a house located south of the runway at 05N, the airplane landed about 122 ft from the approach end of runway 25, and remained on the ground for about 340 ft. The video depicted the airplane in a nose-high, tail low attitude. It then became airborne about 464 ft past the approach end of the runway and entered a shallow climb which appeared to decrease while the airplane turned to a southerly direction. The airplane then banked left and began descending in a nose-low attitude before it was lost from view of the camera.

A pilot-rated witness who was in his house near the departure end of runway 25 reported hearing a noise and then seeing the airplane from his window. He noted it was banking left and trying to climb, describing the bank angle as between 15° and 20°. He then heard a snapping sound like a breaking tree limb followed by ground impact. He went to his porch and about 10 seconds after impact and observed fire. His wife called 911 and he went near the accident site, but the fire precluded him from rendering assistance. He further added that the smoke from the postcrash fire rose vertically, consistent with his account of no or minimal wind at the time of the accident.

The wreckage, which was mostly consumed by the postcrash fire was recovered for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Flight Design
Registration: N708JM
Model/Series: CTSW NO SERIES 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPGV,25 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C /11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 270°
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.23 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Oak Island, NC (SUT)
Destination: Winterville, NC 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 35.480531,-77.356106

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. 



Friends and family are mourning a Pitt County couple killed Saturday when their plane crashed upon landing at the South Oaks Aerodrome.

Authorities said Alan and Susan Emory Stancill were on the way back from a visit with their grandchildren in Southport when their Flight Design CTSW aircraft crashed at the residential field off of County Home Road in southern Pitt County.

Home security footage showed the plane land and take off before stalling, pitching left and crashing. A call was made to Pitt County Emergency Management at 5:42 p.m. Saturday, according to Jay Morris, a fire marshal for the county.

The caller, a motorist on their way home to Ayden, saw smoke at Prop Drive from Worthington Road as well as flames behind a home.

Pitt County Emergency Management was dispatched to the scene, as were the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, Ayden Fire Department, Winterville Community and Winterville Town fire departments, Ayden Emergency Medical Services, State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina Forestry Service.

Morris said that the crash site was “very small.” Caution tape blocked off a depression into woods behind residences across from the aerodrome on Monday.

The Stancills were owners and operators of Stancill’s Wild Game Meat Processing on Abbott Farm Road in the Renston area and were active in their community.

Their son, former Pitt County Communications Director Michael Emory, confirmed that they were involved in the crash in a Facebook post Sunday morning.

“As many longtime customers, friends and family know, Alan Stancill and Susan Emory Stancill were avid sport pilot enthusiasts, among their many other pursuits of life,” the post said. “It is with deepest sorrow, we report that ... following a successful flight to visit with grandchildren, Susan & Alan were involved in an accident upon landing near their home, and this morning woke up into the glory of their heavenly father.

“While there are no words to truly comfort and ease the impact of such an unexpected passing, knowing that their final destination was never in question, gives us hope that one day we will enjoy their smiling faces again.”

Friends of the couple shared heartfelt messages and memories in the aftermath of the crash. Gail Heath, part of Living Proof Ministries in Ayden, cited their faith.

“They loved life, each other, their families and friends and Jesus. Everyone will need prayer in the upcoming days. They were truly amazing and loved by all,” part of the post read.

Sara Bailey, a friend of Susan Stancill’s for 25 years, said “To know Alan and Susan was to know unconditional love, integrity, and, above all else, to see the heart and hands of God.”

Morris said that the Federal Aviation Administration investigated the scene Sunday. The investigation is currently under the jurisdiction of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Keith Holloway with the NTSB said that the investigation is in its early stages.

“We are in a preliminary stage where we will be examining the craft and documenting the scene,” Holloway said. “We will be requesting radar data, weather information, air traffic control communication, airplane maintenance records and the pilot’s medical records.”

Holloway said Monday that these investigations can take approximately one to two years before probable cause is determined.

“We will only be providing factual information as it comes,” Holloway said.




Stancill's Wild Game Meat Processing

"He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning..." - 2 Samuel 23:4

As many longtime customers, friends, and family know, Alan Stancill & Susan Emory Stancill were avid sport pilot enthusiasts, among their many other pursuits of life.  It is with deepest sorrow, we report that on Saturday, May 22, 2021 following a successful flight to visit with grandchildren, Susan & Alan were involved in an accident upon landing near their home, and this morning woke up into the glory of their heavenly father. 

While there are no words to truly comfort and ease the impact of such an unexpected passing, knowing that their final destination was never in question, gives us hope that one day we will enjoy their smiling faces again. 

Without doubt, running a business came in a distant second to their one true purpose: ensuring as many as possible could join them in their heavenly home.  If their life and work has had any impact on you, it was done with the goal of showing the true heart of what it means to serve others, and to serve Christ.

As for the future of Stancill's Wild Game, further details will be released in the coming days & weeks. Thank you to all for helping to build the friendships, family, and legacy of the Stancill name.

-The Children

(Steven Emory, Justin Stancill, Brooke Santos, Michael Emory)



PITT COUNTY, North Carolina (WITN) - Two federal agencies are investigating a deadly plane crash in Pitt County.

Alan and Susan Stancill, the owners of Stancill’s Wild Game Meat Processing, passed in the crash Saturday. The couple was returning from a visit with grandchildren when the accident happened during landing.

“While there are no words to truly comfort and ease the impact of such an unexpected passing, knowing that their final destination was never in question, gives us hope that one day we will enjoy their smiling faces again.”

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the crash, said Nia Fields, a spokesperson for the FAA.

Fields told WITN in an email, the NTSB is the “lead agency in the investigation.”

Several units were at Prop Dr. in Pitt County after a plane crashed in the area Saturday evening.

The FAA said an unidentified aircraft crashed at the South Oaks Aerodrome Airport in Winterville around 5:54 p.m. Two people were on board.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating but the people involved have not been identified.

Crews have been at the neighborhood next to South Oak Aerodrome-NC47 across from the South Oaks Landing for a few hours since around 6 p.m.

Winterville Fire, Ayden Fire, the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office and state troopers were at the scene.

The scene was blocked off from roughly a quarter of a mile away.








Piper PA-28 Cherokee: Incident occurred May 22, 2021 at Leesburg International Airport (KLEE), Lake County, Florida

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

Aircraft struck a bird on departure. 

Date: 22-MAY-21
Time: 20:22:00Z
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA28
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: LEESBURG
State: FLORIDA

Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV, N8315B: Incident occurred May 22, 2021 at Perry-Houston County Airport (KPXE), Georgia

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia 

Aircraft landed and gear collapsed.

 
Robins Air Force Base Aero Club

https://registry.faa.gov/N8315B

Date: 22-MAY-21
Time: 17:00:00Z
Regis#: N8315B
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA28R
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: PERRY
State: GEORGIA



PERRY, Georgia -- WGXA News has confirmed a plane crashed at the Perry-Houston County Airport.

Officials say neither of the two passengers on board were injured.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the landing gear of a Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV collapsed when the plane landed around 1:00 p.m.

Perry Fire crews responded to the scene to assist airport staff with removing the aircraft from the runway. Crews used an air bag lifting system to lift the aircraft off the ground so that the landing gear could be extended. The airplane was removed from the runway without incident, according to Perry Fire Assistant Chief Kirk Crumpton.

FAA records show the plane is owned by the Robins Air Force Base Aero Club.

The FAA is investigating the crash.



HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia — A plane landing at the Perry-Houston County Airport had a "gear malfunction" and landed without the landing gear down on Saturday afternoon.

James Marquardt with the airport says this was not a crash, but the plane did "skid" down the runway on its belly.

Two people were in the plane, and there were no injuries, according to Marquardt.

They are in the final stages of removing airplane, the plane is now up on its landing gear and they are about ready to tow the vehicle and reopen the runway.

The plane belongs to the Robins Air Force Base Aero Club.