Pilot Landed About 1,400 Ft Down The 2,424 Ft Runway And Then Lifted The Right Main Wheel To Avoid (A) Turtle

Location: Farmington, NC Accident Number: CEN25FA194
Date & Time: June 3, 2025, 11:45 Local Registration: N40158
Aircraft: Universal Stinson 108 Injuries: 2 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On June 3, 2025, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Universal Stinson 108 airplane, N40518 was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Farmington, North Carolina. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and one passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.

The airplane departed runway 2 at the Sugar Valley Airport (5NC2), Mocksville, North Carolina, and flew around the traffic pattern. Upon turning base leg for runway 2, the UNICOM operator, who was looking out the airport office window facing southeast, advised the pilot that there was a turtle on the runway. According to the UNICOM operator, the pilot landed about 1,400 ft down the 2,424 ft runway and then lifted the right main wheel to avoid the turtle. The UNICOM operator stated that she heard the pilot advance the throttle after he raised the right wheel. 

The airplane left her point of view, and she was unable to see the airplane after that. A man cutting the grass at the end of runway 2 reported that he saw the turtle on the runway and the pilot raised the right wheel to avoid the turtle. After that, the wings began to rock back and forth. Then the airplane took off again, but he lost site of the airplane when it passed behind a hangar. The airplane disappeared just over the trees on the northeast side of the runway and then he heard a loud crash and saw smoke.

The airplane impacted a heavily forested area about 255 ft northeast of the departure end of runway 2. A post impact fire ensued. The airplane came to rest on a heading of about 100°. The airplane was wedged between several trees and remained in one piece except for a few pieces of fabric that were found in an adjacent stream next to the accident site. The fabric on the fuselage, cowling, and wings was completely burned off and the airplane frame was visible. The fabric on the vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer was intact; however, parts of the vertical stabilizer fabric were melted. The metal rudder and elevator were not fire damaged.

The airplane came to rest on its left side with the left wing folded underneath the fuselage and the right wing bent aft. Control cable continuity was confirmed to the rudder, elevator, and right aileron. Due to impact damage, cable continuity could not be confirmed to the left aileron or flaps.

The airplane wreckage and engine were retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov