One man, 38-year-old James Capstaff of Aberdeen, died when theChallenger II Ultralight aircraftcrashed at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday near Pinebluff in Moore County.Wednesday would have been his 39th birthday. Capstaff came from a familyof pilots. In 1978, he earned his license. Six years ago he built theultralight involved in the crash.
Police say the plane slammed beneath the surface of a shallow lake atthe 13th hole at Legacy Golf Links golf course off U.S. 15-501.Police say the victim's body was trapped inside the wreckage, but hassince been recovered.
A second Aberdeen man, 32-year-old Ricky Jackson believed to be thepilot, survived the crash and went to get help for Capstaff. Jackson is recovering from minor injuries at Moore Regional Hospital and doesn'trecall the details of the accident.
Legacy's Assistant Grounds Supervisor,Tim Patterson, said witnessestold him it appearedthe pilot was "playing around", trying to dip the plane's wheels into thewater when theplane went down.
Charlotte Lammers of Pinebluff also noticed the plane before it wentdown.
"I was concerned about how low this aircraft was flying over the houseshere in town," said Lammers. "It was well into dusk and he was at tree-toplevel, practicing touch and go landings in a field a block from my house.I had just walked in to the house and asked my husband if we shouldn'tcall the sheriff."
Lammers was without power, as were many on either side of Highway 1,after the plane reportedly hit a power line.
Authorities have no evidence as to why the plane crashed. The FAA madea brief appearance Wednesday afternoon, but left when they found out theaircraft was an ultralight. We're told the because of the way the planewas registered, the FAA will have to return to the scene.
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