Pilot, passenger recovering after small plane crashes near Knightdale
KNIGHTDALE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Two people were injured when a small plane crashed around 2:30 p.m. near Three Sisters Road at Raleigh East Airport.
A 2009 Rainbow Cheetah XLS was traveling southwest near the end of Three Sisters Road when the plane struck several enclosed storage trailers, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said. The plane then continued southwest, striking several trees before coming to an "uncontrolled landing" in a ravine past the end of the runway.
Knightdale PD said two people were on board the small plane. When emergency workers arrived, they found them conscious and alert and were able to get them out quickly.
William Boggs, Knightdale Fire Battalion Chief, said the people aboard were taken to WakeMed and expected to recover.
The Highway Patrol identified the people on board as Luis Quijano and John "Alex" Wellman.
The plane sustained heavy damage to the wings and the cockpit.
"We had a big response out here," Boggs said. "With an airplane crash, you don't know what you're dealing with. It could be a big one or it could be a small one like we had today."
Flight records showed that the plane took off from Cox Airport in Apex.
The manager of Cox Airport told ABC11 that Wellman was an experienced flight instructor and a retired Air Force command pilot.
The FAA has taken over the investigation. It's still not known what caused the crash.
No other details were immediately available.
Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App
