Pilot Dies Trying to Avoid a Turtle on the Runway—Tragic Crash in North Carolina

A pilot in North Carolina tried to dodge a turtle. The plane never made it back up safely.

On June 3, a small Universal Stinson 108 crashed near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville, NC—roughly an hour north of Charlotte.

Two people onboard died, one more was seriously hurt. And yes, a turtle was involved.

According to the NTSB’s first report, the plane had landed and was taxiing back when a communications officer spotted a turtle on the runway.

She told the pilot. He tried to help—lifting the right wheel to avoid crushing the animal. That’s when things went sideways.

The comms officer said the pilot pushed the throttle right after lifting the wheel, and she lost sight of the plane.

A man mowing grass nearby saw the moment. The plane’s wing started rocking after the wheel lift. It went airborne again, disappeared behind a hangar, then he heard a crash and saw smoke.

The aircraft slammed into the woods about 250 feet past the runway and caught fire. It stayed mostly intact, just tangled between trees with some torn fabric.

The report doesn’t confirm if the turtle-dodge move directly caused the crash. It also didn’t name the victims or suggest a clear cause yet. Final results could take a year or two.

As for the turtle? No word. But this one simple decision—trying to spare a life—might have cost two.