Plane crash kills airline retiree, doctor

Friday, June 22, 2007

By Marcie Young and Greg Lacour
Charlotte Observer Staff Writers

TAYLORSVILLE -- Two Alexander County men, one a retired doctor and the other a retired airline pilot, were killed when a small plane crashed Thursday afternoon on a rural airfield.

Dr. Walter Long Jr., 75, and his friend Bennie Hall Sharpe, 70, were pronounced dead at the scene just east of Taylorsville.

It's unclear who was flying the single-engine, 47-year-old Cessna 182C, said Sheriff Hayden Bentley, although Long owned it. The men were "longtime friends who flew together a lot," Bentley said.

"They were well known, well liked in the community," he said.

The Civil Air Patrol reported the plane overdue about 1:30 p.m. after the plane sent a signal indicating that it was missing, authorities said. Then Statesville-based pilot Phil Hazel spotted the wreckage from a helicopter, said N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. Eric Harris.

Vernon Kerley, who lives across from the air strip, said he saw the plane circling but heard no engine noise.

The flight appeared local, starting and set to end in Taylorsville, the FAA said.


All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.