Passenger 'Very Seriously Injured'

A plane enroute from Maryland to Florida on Thursday apparently developed engine trouble and went down just shy of the Anson County Airport (AFP) near Wadesboro, NC.

The Van's RV-7A had taken off from Greensboro's Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) on the second leg of a flight to Gainesville, FL (GNV) about 45 minutes prior to the crash. Flight tracking information obtained from FlightAware indicates the plane had diverted to AFP from its planned path.

Anson County Sheriff Tommy Allen said emergency calls reporting the crash were received at 3:02 pm. "Witnesses said the motor was sporadic and sputtering. Apparently, he was having some kind of engine problems," Sheriff Allen said.

Witnesses also reported the pilot was attempting to land at the airport but failed to reach the runway, crashing about 500 feet short, the Greensboro News-Record said.

The pilot and owner of the plane was identified by Sheriff Allen as Steven P. Reamer, 57, of Marriottsville, MD. His passenger was his wife, Pamela, 54. "Very seriously injured," she was medevaced to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov