Local News

Plane Crash Victim Identified

Posted 2006-08-04T18:48:52+00:00 - Updated 1997-12-27T05:00:00+00:00

The family of Doctor Robert Brown now knows he was the pilot of the plane that crashed on Christmas Eve. His identity was confirmed December 26th.

Dr. Brown was flying his single engine plane to his job in South Carolina when it crashed into the woods on RDU airport property. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA returned to the crash site Friday. They are trying to figure out what caused the Cessna 172 to go down minutes after take off.

Airport authorities say there was a low weather ceiling in the area when Brown took off around 8:00 p.m. Within minutes, he crashed just off Airport Boulevard.

Investigators also don't know why the pilot was still in the vicinity of the airport six full minutes after take off.