Teen hurt in Cumberland plane crash says unlicensed pilot may have been at controls

An unlicensed pilot might have been at the controls before a plane crashed off the end of a runway at a Cumberland County airport on Monday.

Three students participating in an event showcasing careers in aviation and a Cape Fear Aviation flight instructor were injured when the 1974 Cessna C172 went down at Gray's Creek Airport, off Butler Nursery Road.

Vanessa Leal, 18, of Falcon, said Thursday that she was sitting in the back seat of the plane with Dominique Northcutt, 23, of Fayetteville. The instructor, Jake Parsons, 19, was in front with Justin Elliott, 24, of Linden, Leal said.

"I think it was whenever we started taking off that stuff went wrong," Leal said in an exclusive interview with WRAL News.

"I just remember screaming because I knew something was wrong because we weren't supposed to be that way in the air ... like tilted," she said.

Leal indicated that the nose of the plane suddenly shot up during takeoff.

"I just know that the pilot that has his license said to the other one to let him take over, and I knew it was too late by then," she said.

She said she passed out during the incident and doesn't remember the crash itself, only waking up as she was being put into an ambulance.

Cape Fear Aviation declined to comment Thursday when asked if students were allowed to fly the planes during Monday's event.

The event, sponsored by Cumberland County Workforce Development, allowed registered attendees to learn about careers as airplane mechanics or pilots, jobs expected to be in high demand in coming years.

Parsons' grandfather, Joe Marsh, chief of the Gray's Creek Fire Department, responded to the crash. Marsh is a pilot himself, and he said it appeared the plane stalled during takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.

Leal remains at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, recovering from abdominal surgery, broken bones in her feet and injuries to her face and left hand. She said she forgives both Parsons and Elliott for the crash.

"I wasn't upset with either of them for the accident," she said, noting that she texted Parsons.

Leal said she had never flown before Monday. She was enthralled with an earlier flight and decided to go up a second time, but she said she now isn't sure if she will ever get on another plane.