NTSB Coverage

NTSB report: UNC medical plane bounced in crash at RDU, wingtip and nose hit ground at same time

A National Transportation Safety Board report is providing more details about how a UNC Air Operations medical airplane crashed last month at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

WRAL Staff

'Inadequate inspections' led to Charlotte helicopter crash that killed two TV station employees, report finds

Improperly installed hardware caused the loss of helicopter control resulting in the Nov. 22, 2022, crash of the WBTV helicopter, the National Transportation Safety Board found.

'Inadequate inspections' led to helicopter crash that killed two WBTV employees, NTSB finds

Improperly installed hardware caused the loss of helicopter control resulting in the Nov. 22, 2022, crash of the WBTV helicopter, the National Transportation Safety Board found.

James Brierton, WCNC

NTSB report: Pilot's decision to leave his seat led to death in fall from plane

A document from the National Transportation Safety Board reported that Charles Hew Crooks said he was sorry before getting up from his seat, removing his headset and running toward the open rear ramp door.

Carly Haynes, WRAL reporter

NTSB holds summit to address pilot mental health

On Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board is hosting the first-ever summit on pilot mental health.

Report: Co-pilot apologized before jumping from airplane

A newly-released report from the National Transportation Safety Board is providing more details about events leading up to a 23-year-old co-pilot jumping from a plane before an emergency landing on July 29 at RDU.

Before jumping from plane, co-pilot was 'visibly upset' and 'may have gotten sick'

Charles Hew Crooks was reportedly 'visibly upset' as they planned their approach to RDU with air traffic control.

Mark Boyle and Julian Grace, WRAL reporters

Newly-released phone calls shed light on law enforcement response to pilot who jumped out of plane

New calls released from Cary Police Department show how first responders coordinated the search for a man who jumped out of a plane prior to an emergency landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport last month.

911 call released: FAA says pilot described co-pilot jumping from plane before emergency landing

On Tuesday, a recording obtained by WRAL News detailed a conversation between those at Federal Aviation Administration employees in the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Tower and 911 dispatchers.

911 call: FAA says pilot described co-pilot jumping from plane

Two Federal Aviation Administration employees in the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Tower told the Raleigh-Wake County 911 dispatcher that the surviving pilot reported his co-pilot jumped out of a plane last week before making an emergency landing.

Man told RDU tower his co-pilot 'jumped out' of plane before emergency landing

The RDU Police Department said it had interviewed the surviving pilot, whose name was not made public.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter & Chris Lovingood, WRAL anchor/reporter

FAA to lead investigation for death of co-pilot

Charles Hew Crooks, 23, died July 29 and was one of two people on board the flight, which had only one person on it when it landed at RDU.

FAA, NTSB have yet to interview surviving co-pilot about whether man fell or jumped from plane

Charles Hew Crooks, 23, died July 29 and was one of two people on board the flight.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

NTSB: Duke Life Flight pilot shut down wrong engine before fatal crash

The pilot of a Duke Life Flight medical helicopter that crashed in northeast North Carolina more than three years ago, killing all four people aboard, likely got confused by an array of emergency indicators about a problem with one of his two engines and mistakenly shut down the other one, according to federal investigators.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Helicopter crash in Wayne County kills pilot

WRAL's Rosalia Fodera spoke with a witness who heard the helicopter moments before it crashed, killing the pilot, on Thursday in Wayne County.

NTSB: Pilot flew fatal flight with helmet, no roof

The pilot who died in a plane crash in October flew the plane without a canopy and wore a motorcycle helmet and facemask during the open-air flight, according to a new report.

NTSB: Pilot had issue with electronic controls before fatal Hope Mills crash

A plane that crashed into a home near Hope Mills two weeks ago had problems with its electronic controls days before the fatal crash, according to preliminary findings by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Joe Fisher, WRAL multimedia journalist, & Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Investigators search for answers after tragic Texas plane crash

NTSB investigators are pouring through the wreckage -- focused on a number of factors including: the pilot's experience, the condition of the aircraft, the weather and communications with the tower.

NTSB, FAA continue search for answers after deadly chopper crash

The helicopter had been seen flying erratically over New York City prior to the crash.

Report: Plane 'just took off' before crashing in Franklin County

A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board said witnesses told investigators they were surprised a plane was traveling before it took off. It crashed a minute later.

Deborah Strange, WRAL digital journalist

Inside the Southwest engine that failed

A containment system designed to keep damaged parts from breaking free of a jet engine will likely be the focus of the NTSB investigation into Tuesday's fatal Southwest Airlines accident.

Tony Rice, WRAL contributor/NASA Ambassador