One Injured, Two Lost In Nighttime Mishap

Investigators report a Piper PA-32 Lance, that went down early Monday while attempting to land at Andrews-Murphy Airport in North Carolina, struck power lines before falling short of the runway. A Murphy surgeon, Dr. Larry Opoliner, was critically injured in the accident, and two other men were killed.

Airport manager Dan Ellis told the Asheville Citizen-Times the aircraft crashed just after midnight. Sheriff Keith Lovin said at least one of the men worked in Cherokee County and the other lived in the area.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said preliminary reports indicate the plane hit power lines during its approach to land at the airport. The plane, which had been traveling from Orlando Executive Airport in Florida, was registered to Damien O'Neill of Franklin, Bergen said.

O'Neill has been identified by officials as the pilot of the aircraft, reports WVFF-4. (Earlier reports cited by ANN, stating Opoliner was at the controls, have been recounted -- Ed.) 

NTSB investigators are onsite to determine exactly why the plane crashed on Airport Road, about 500 feet north of the approach end to runway 8.

Cherokee County EMS Paramedic Ben English said 911 calls began shortly after 12:30 a.m. Emergency personnel found Opoliner sitting about 10 feet from the burning wreckage. He was airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, TN in critical condition.

Ellis said landing at RHP at night can be tricky, as it's uncontrolled. The field does have pilot-controlled lighting.

"It's really a pretty safe airport," said Andrews Fire Department Lt. Rick Trammel, a pilot. "You just never know."

FMI: www.globalair.com/airport/airportinfo~/aptcode=RHP