NEWS

Fletcher, Hendersonville men die in airplane crash in Fairview

Staff
Two Henderson County men died in a plane crash in Fairview Wednesday morning, the N.C. Highway Patrol said.

Two Henderson County men died in a plane crash in Fairview Wednesday morning, the N.C. Highway Patrol said.

The men have been identified as Malachy Dady Beckham Jr., 76, of Fletcher and John Thomas Gaitskill, 72, of Hendersonville. 

The small plane crashed in a field near the 300 block of Lower Brush Creek Road, Highway Patrol Master Trooper Murico Stephens said. 

The agency was called to the scene at about 11:30 a.m. and met with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, which also responded.

The investigation has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board, which was called Wednesday.

The investigator is working at the scene today, NTSB Public Affairs Officer Terry Williams said, and a preliminary report with any early information gathered will be released in seven to 10 days. 

The airplane will be taken from the field today to allow for closer examination of the engine and the plane, Williams added. 

There were some eyewitnesses, Williams said, and the investigator will be speaking with them as well as looking at the pilot's history, the aircraft's maintenance, weather conditions and more, which is standard procedure.  

The final report about the cause of the crash will be released in about a year to a year and a half, Williams said. 

The airplane is a RANS S6S light-sport plane, Williams said, with tail number N661PF. 

The Rans S-6 Coyote is described as a single-engine, two-seat plane manufactured by Rans Inc. and available in kit form for amateur construction or as a completed light-sport aircraft.