Near the stroke of midnight a pilot and his aircraft crashed in the Wake Forest area out just north of Falls Lake. The aircraft came to a stop in the top of some pine trees before falling to the ground and allegedly coming to rest on a propane tank.
The FAA reports the plane is owned by Ethan Leggett from Pewee Valley, Kentucky. – Source
The aircraft is reported to be a 1971 Cessna 150L and appears to have been recently checked out and issued a valid certificate.
According to news reports the plane did not wake the homeowners when it crashed silently into the trees. The homeowners moved into the house on Krogen Court just three weeks ago. A lovely neighborhood I might add. Worth a look out there if you want to buy a house.
The plane came to rest in Granville County which always reminds me of the most interesting man in the world commercials from Dos Equis beer. As I told the Granville County Sheriff’s Deputy, “I might not always make it out to Granville County but when I do it certainly is over something interesting.” A plane in the tree, counts. Stay thirsty my friends.
That reminded me of a scene from a Robin Williams movie, The World According to Garp.
As a pilot myself I can assure you the guy flying the plane that went down must have been scared shitless as he descended into an uncertain landing spot. He probably worried he was moments from dying. Been there, done that.
But under the heading of a good landing is one you can walk away from, on one had this was a good landing.
The pilot had his bag all packed and he was ready to go, but he didn’t expect to wind up in our little area.
The FAA inspector was out examining the aircraft this afternoon after it was craned from its spot in the trees to a more manageable location.
It appears as if fuel starvation might have played a role in the crash.
This like running out of gas on the interstate and coasting to a stop on a grassy shoulder. In the shade. Just a few yards from an exit with a choice of gas stations. Not something you want to have happen but you are grateful just the same. He was probably trying to avoid N.C.'s high fuel taxes.