3 dead after North Carolina plane crashes leaving Johnson County | WJHL

Rescue workers at the scene of the plane crash in McDowell County, NC, July 8, 2024 (WSPA photo)

MCDOWELL COUNTY, NC (WJHL) — Three people were killed when a Johnson County plane crashed in McDowell County, North Carolina, Sunday evening.

Just before 9:30 a.m. Monday, the McDowell County Emergency Management Agency issued a press release saying emergency crews were on the scene of a plane crash near Brackett Town Road in Dysartsville. At 1:09 p.m., the McDowell County Emergency Management Agency issued a new press release confirming three fatalities in the crash.

Dave Garris, manager of the Johnson County Airport, confirmed that the plane took off from Johnson County around 8:30 p.m. Sunday but never reached its destination. The plane was headed to Rutherfordton, North Carolina, Garris told News Channel 11.

The identity of the deceased was not disclosed.

The McDowell County Emergency Management Agency said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was on the scene Monday afternoon. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was also notified of the crash and will lead the investigation, the press release said.

The FAA confirmed the plane was a single-engine Cessna 182. The FAA told News Channel 11 that the plane crashed in the mountains near Rutherfordton and that three people were on board. An FAA spokesman said a preliminary incident report is expected to be available Tuesday.

The NTSB said in a statement that an investigator began heading to the scene of the accident Monday afternoon. The investigator will begin documenting the accident scene and examining the debris from the plane crash. An NTSB investigation looks at three main areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment.

Anyone who may have witnessed the plane crash is asked to contact the NTSB via email: [email protected].

A preliminary report from the NTSB will be available within 30 days.

More than a dozen departments responded to the scene of the accident on Monday.