The crash occurred around 4 p.m. at Raleigh Executive Jetport, located at 700 Rod Sullivan Road. On board were the pilot, Terrence Gallagher of Chapel Hill—also the plane’s owner—and a mechanic, Scott Riley.
Gallagher, critically injured, was airlifted to UNC Hospitals. Riley, also seriously hurt, was flown to Duke Hospital.
Authorities said the pilot performed touch-and-go maneuvers, a routine practice where a plane lands and takes off without stopping—often used for training or emergency preparation. During the final takeoff, the plane veered left and crashed into a field.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is currently handling the case. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will take over the investigation starting Thursday morning.
