Pilot killed in small plane crash was trying to avoid turtle on runway

The pilot who died in a small plane crash in North Carolina was trying to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway as he landed. 

According to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report, the crash happened on June 3 near Sugar Valley Airport in Mocksville. The pilot and a passenger were killed, and a second passenger was seriously injured. 

Turtle on the runway

What we know:

A communications operator at the airport told the pilot that there was a turtle on the runway as they landed. The pilot landed about 1,400 feet down the 2,424-foot runway, but lifted the right main wheel to avoid hitting the turtle. 

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The operator said the airplane went out of view after the wheel lifted. 

What they're saying:

A witness who was cutting the grass near the runway said they saw the pilot raise the wheel to avoid the turtle, which caused the wings of the plane to rock back and forth before taking off again. The witness lost sight of the plane, then heard a loud crash and saw smoke rising. 

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The plane caught fire after crashing in a heavily forested area about 255 feet from the runway. It came to rest on its left side with the left wing folded underneath the fuselage and the right wing bent toward the tail. The plane was wedged between several trees, but remained in one piece except for a few pieces of fabric found in a nearby stream. 

What we don't know:

The official cause of the plane crash has not been released. Those are included in final reports, which can take one to two years to complete.