Pilot dies in small plane crash with tractor-trailer engulfed in flames; shuts down NC highway  


Pilot dies after twin-engine Beechcraft Baron crashes onto 1-85 in North Carolina, is struck by a tractor-trailer and becomes engulfed in flames

  • A pilot died after a plane crash involving a tractor-trailer shut down part of I-85 in North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon
  • The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron collided with a tractor-trailer near the Davidson County Airport 
  • A portion of the highway remains closed as crews work to clear the scene, which is expected to be reopened by 11pm


A pilot has died after a plane crash involving a tractor-trailer that shut down part of I-85 in North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, according to Fox 8. 

Davidson County troopers said the plane was fully engulfed in flames after crashing onto the highway and then being struck by a tractor-trailer. 

The southbound lanes of the interstate were shut down between exits 91 and 88 in Lexington near Cotton Grove Road starting around 5:30 p.m. 

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron collided with a tractor-trailer on I-85 near the Davidson County Airport in Lexington. 

The pilot has not been identified. The driver of the tractor-trailer has been removed from his vehicle, according to local reports, but his condition is unknown.

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Emergency crews were on the scene clearing the way as the southbound lanes were closed

Emergency crews were on the scene clearing the way as the southbound lanes were closed

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the fatal crash

 The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the fatal crash 

An unnamed pilot died Wednesday afternoon after his plane crashed onto a highway

An unnamed pilot died Wednesday afternoon after his plane crashed onto a highway

The small plane was struck by a tractor-trailer after it wrecked on the highway

 The small plane was struck by a tractor-trailer after it wrecked on the highway 

The name of the pilot has not been released but the driver of the vehicle was reported alive

 The name of the pilot has not been released but the driver of the vehicle was reported alive

A portion of the highway remained closed as crews worked to clear the scene, which was expected to be reopened by 11 p.m. 

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the case.  

‘Apparently it was having some problem in takeoff ‘ crash witness Donald Holt Sr. told WRAL. ‘My wife said, “The plane is kinda low.” I said, “Yes, it is.”‘ 

‘As soon as we got right over the highway, we saw the tail of the plane and we saw the tractor-trailer learning on its side and both were on fire,’ said Holt. ‘As we got a little further, we saw a bunch of smoke — white smoke and black smoke.’ 

‘The flames were coming. It was too hot [and] it was too dangerous to get close to it,’ said Holt. 

Video and photos from the scene showed the charred remains of the small plane and the turned-over tractor-trailer splayed across the highway. 

Plumes of black smoke billowed across the interstate as emergency crews stopped traffic and worked to clear the road.  

The fiery crash shut down I-85 in Davidson County, North Carolina during the rush hour

The fiery crash shut down I-85 in Davidson County, North Carolina during the rush hour

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