North Carolina Deadliest Disasters Database

 

This page is a catalog of all disasters EXCLUDING structural fires and explosions in North Carolina with FIVE or more fatalities. Contact Mike Legeros to contribute or correct information.

Click a column heading to sort. Last updated 18AUG09
 

Location County Incident Date Year Deaths Notes
Hendersonville Henderson Air, Civil Jul. 19 1967 82 Piedmont Flight 22. Boeing 727 vs. Cessna 310 at 6,132 feet. 12:01 p.m. Source: NTSB; web site.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Air, Civil Sept. 11 1974 72 Eastern Flight 212. DC-9 on final approach to airport. One death 29 days later. 10 survivors. 7:34 a.m. Source: NTSB; wiki.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Air, Civil Jul. 2 1994 37 USAir Flight 1016. DC-9 in residential area after missed approach. Plane encountered wind shear during adverse weather. 20 survivors. 6:43 p.m. Source: NTSB; wiki.
Bolivia Brunswick Air, Civil Jan. 6 1960 34 National Flight 2511. DC-6 caused by detonation of dynamite within passenger cabin. 2:38 a.m. Source: Various; wiki.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Air, Civil Jan. 8 2003 21 US Airways Express Light 5481. Commuter jet into hangar during takeoff. 8:47 a.m. Source: NTSB; wiki.
Morrisville Wake Air, Civil Dec. 13 1994 15 American Eagle. Commuter plane on approach to RDU at night. Crashed about four miles short of runway. Five survivors. Source: NTSB.
Cary Wake Air, Civil Feb. 19 1988 12 American Eagle. Commuter plane during takeoff at RDU at night. Source: NTSB. Source: USA.
Chapel Hill Orange Air, Civil Feb. 7 1981 7 Cessna 340A. Collided with trees on final approach. Source: NTSB.
Cherry Point MCAS Craven Air, Civil /
Air, Military
Jan. 9 1983 7 Beech D55 vs. McDonnell Douglas F4C about 30 miles south of Cherry Point. Two uninjured. Source: NTSB.
Tobaccoville Forsyth Air, Civil Jan. 20 1968 6 Piper PA-31. Source: NTSB.
Old Fort McDowell Air, Civil Jul. 2 1971 6 Beech S35. Crashed in adverse weather. Source: NTSB.
Greensboro Guilford Air, Civil Apr. 13 1973 6 Cessna 402A. Crashed after take-off. Source: NTSB.
Greenville Pitt Air, Civil May 15 1992 6 Piper PA-32-260. Crashed into wooden terrain shortly after take-off. Source: NTSB.
? Mecklenburg Air, Civil Jun. 3 1963 5 Source: GNA
Shelby Cleveland Air, Civil Dec. 3 1964 5 Cessna 172. Source: NTSB.
RDU Wake Air, Civil Feb. 21 1964 5 Source: CFR history
Raleigh Wake Air, Civil Feb. 25 1965 5 Cessna 1982. Crashed in Crabtree Lake at Umstead Park after running out of fuel on approach to airport. All victims drowned with minor or no injuries. Source: NTSB.
Bolivia Brunswick Air, Civil Jun. 18 1965 5 Beechcraft 35C. Source: NTSB.
Trenton Jones Air, Civil Jun. 30 1967 5 Beech 95. Crashed after engine failure. Source: NTSB.
Morrisville Wake Air, Civil Apr. 2 1970 5 Cessna 401A. Crashed into trees on approach to airport. Source: NTSB.
Burnsville Alamance Air, Civil Dec. 4 1971 5 Piper PA-23. Source: NTSB.
Lenoir Caldwell Air, Civil Nov. 26 1973 5 Mooney M20C. Source: NTSB.
Bryson City Swain Air, Civil Aug. 9 1977 5 Cessna 172K. Crashed after take-off. Source: NTSB.
Sanford Lee Air, Civil Sept. 8 1977 5 Learjet 25B. Fire or explosion in flight after take-off. Source: NTSB.
Kitty Hawk Dare Air, Civil Jul. 4 1979 5 Cessna 172. Crashed in adverse weather. Source: NTSB.
Cherry Point MCAS Craven Air, Civil Jan. 9 1983 5 Source: NTSB.
Banner Elk Avery Air, Civil Nov. 5 1983 5 Cessna T210M. Crashed 1/2 mile after take-off. Source: NTSB.
Flat Rock Henderson Air, Civil Aug. 23 1985 5 Piper PA-31T. Source: NTSB.
Manteo Dare Air, Civil Sept. 30 1987 5 Beech 95-B55. Crashed into ocean while flying adjacent to shore. Source: NTSB.
Indian Trail Union Air, Civil May 25 1998 5 Bell 206L-3 helicopter. Crashed into wires in foggy conditions. Source: NTSB.
Mount Airy Surry Air, Civil Mar. 1 2003 5 Beech BE-36A. Crashed shortly after take-off. Source: NTSB.
Laurinburg-Maxton AAB Robeson Air, Military Sept. 20 1943 25 One of state's deadliest military aircraft accident happened the morning of Sept. 20, 1943, at Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base, two miles from Maxton. On a run to shuttle passengers, cargo, and official mail daily between "Pope Field" and Stout Field in Indianapolis, reported the News & Observer (9/20, 9/23), an Army transport crashed after take off. The plane burst into flames in woods near the end of the runway, and all 25 aboard were killed. It was also the first fatality at the base, which had been operating for more than a year. LMAAB was an installation of the First Troop Carrier Command, and was used for training air units including airborne infantry, glider pilots, and paratroopers. Source: N&O 21SEP43.
Pope AFB Wayne Air, Military Mar. 23 1994 23 100 injured, F-16 vs. C-130 at 300 feet above runway.
Camp Lejeune Onslow Air, Military Jun. 23 1967 22 Helicopter collision at New River Marine air facility. HUE-1 and CH53-A Sea Stallion helicopters collided at 500 feet, at the end of a runway. Source: GenD.
Laurinburg-Maxton AAB Robeson Air, Military Jun. 7 1943 20 One of two C-47 transports that took off from Pope Field about 3 a.m., on flight to LMAAB. Encountering a thunderstorm, one plane turned back. Search party was dispatched about 5 a.m. and the wreckage and bodies of all aboard were found within sight of LMAAB. Crew of four and 16 passengers killed. Source: N&O.
Camp Lejeune Onslow Air, Military May 10 1996 14 Helicopter collision.
Camp Mackall Scotland Air, Military Oct. 30 1943 14 Transport plan, with four injured. Source: N&O 31OCT43
Cherry Point MCAS Craven Air, Military Oct. 16 1975 9 TC-4C on initial lift-off.
Elizabeth City Pasquotank Air, Military Apr. 1? 1943 8 Navy patrol plane crashed at night into Albemarle Sound, 12 miles from Elizabeth City. Eight missing. Source: GenD.
Cherry Point MCAS Craven Air, Military Mar. 7 1959 8  
Burgaw Pender Air, Military Jul. 5 1945 7 Brazilian air force.
Fort Bragg Cumberland Air, Military Mar. 30 1954 7 C119 Flying Boxcar transport made emergency landing on narrow parade field, and crashed into a mess hall. Source: GenD.
Cherry Point MCAS Craven Air, Military /
Air, Civil
Jan. 9 1983 7 Beech D55 vs. McDonnell Douglas F4C about 30 miles south of Cherry Point. Two uninjured. Source: NTSB.
Denton Davidson Air, Military Mar. 30 1961 6 B-52 lost control during refueling attempt. Crew ordered to bail out. Only six of eight crew members had ejector seats. Massive explosion when crashed off Silver Hill Mine Road. Crater visible for 40 miles. Source: GNA, web site
Fort Bragg Cumberland Air, Military Jul. 2 1987 5 C-130 on dirt runway, also struck jeep with one person.
Camp Mackall Scotland Air, Military Feb. 19 1944 5 Five men killed in a glider crash at night during a routine flight. Source: N&O, 20FEB44.
Various Various Flooding Sep. 3 1913 12? Floods and wind in Eastern North Carolina. Source: GenD.
Various Various Hurricane Sept. 16 1999 51 Hurricane Floyd.
Various Various Hurricane Jun. 20 and 21 1972 35 Hurricane Agnes.
Various Various Hurricane Sept. 4-8 1996 24 Hurricane Fran.
Various Various Hurricane Oct. 15 1954 19 Hurricane Hazel.
Bachelor Creek Craven Military Accident May 26 1864 40 Torpedoes being removed from railway cars killed 40 soldiers and civilians. Source: GenD.
Camp Mackall Scotland Military Accident Feb. 16 1944 8 Eight paratroopers drowned in Kenny Cameron Lake, when their pilots miscalculated the drop zone. Source: USA.
Highway 301 Johnston Military Accident Mar. 7 1942 7 Munitions truck explosion. Over 100 injured. Source: Various.
Fayetteville, Near Cumberland MVA Jun. 6 1957 18 One of the nation’s worst truck accidents at the time, the fiery crash of a potato van and truck filled with migrant laborers. 19 injured. Source: GNA.
Lumberton, near Robeson MVA Oct. 3 1942 11 Bus, gas tanker, and wagon. Source: GNA.
Plymouth Washington MVA Jul. 31,
on or before
1997 10 High school students. Source: GNA.
Charlotte Mecklenburg MVA Dec. 26 1931 9 Hit by train. Source: GNA.
Williamston Martin MVA Oct. 17 1965 9 Three-car crash. Source: GNA.
Wadesboro, in or near Anson MVA Feb. 1 1970 9 Fiery crash. Source: GNA.
Lumberton Roberson MVA Aug. 22 1933 7 Truck carrying 12 farmers crashed into side of train. Source: GNA.
?   MVA Sept. 7 1971 7 Head-on collision. Source: GNA.
Fayetteville Cumberland MVA Nov. 29 1993 7 Source: GNA.
Troutman Iredell MVA Dec. 30 2003 7 Police chase. Source: GNA.
Chadbourn Columbus MVA May 14 1928 6 14 injured truck hit by train. Source: GNA.
Gastonia, near Gaston MVA Jul. 16 1967 6 Source: GNA.
Raleigh Wake MVA Oct. 24,
on or before
1982 6 Source: GNA.
Raleigh Wake MVA Nov. 1 2003 6 MVA/Pedestrian accident at Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road.
Franklinton Franklin MVA Nov. 5 1926 5 Source: GNA.
Lucama Nash MVA Dec. 10 1961 5 Source: GNA.
? Pasquotank MVA Dec. 19,
on or before
1994 5 Source: GNA.
? Randolph MVA Dec. 16,
on or before
1997 5 Source: GNA.
?   MVA Jan. 2
on or before
1998 5 Source: GNA.
Rennert Robeson Railroad Dec. 16 1943 74 Collision and derailment of two trains. Most of the fatalities were servicemen. 54 injured. Source: web site.
Hamlet Richmond Railroad Jul. 22 1906 29 Collision of two trains one mile from Hamlet, passenger train versus freight train. 23 seriously hurt. Source: GenD.
Statesville Iredell Railroad Aug. 26? 1891 25 Passenger train derails at Bostian's Bridge over Third Creek, two miles west of Statesville. Source: GenD.
Hamlet Richmond Railroad Jul. 27 1911 8 Collision of two trains in front of Hamlet roundhouse, passenger train versus freight train. 60 seriously hurt, 28 with minor injuries. Source: GenD.
Various Various Tornado Mar. 28 1984 42 Nine counties.
Various Various Tornado Feb. 19 1884 23 Two counties.
Various Various Tornado Apr. 2 1936 14 Guilford county (and maybe others?).
Various Columbus Tornado Nov. 16 2006 8  
Various Various Tornado Apr. 5 1931 6 Five counties in NC and VA. Source: GenD.
Various Various Tornado Apr. 3 1974 6 Two counties.
Roxobel Bertie Tornado Apr. 20 1943 5 Source: GenD.
Various Various Tornado May 5 1989 5 Two counties.
Farmville Chatham Mine May 27 1925 53 Coal Glen mine explosion. Source: Various.
Cumnock Lee Mine Dec. 19 1895 39 Coal mine. Explosion. Source: CDC.
Cumnock Lee Mine May 23 1899 23 Coal mine. Explosion. Source: CDC.
Altapass Mitchell Tunnel May 13? 1907 9 Nine killed by explosion during construction of railroad tunnel. Source: GenD.
Currituck Beach Dare Boat/Ship Jan. 31 1878 150? Steamer Metropolis struck outer bar off Currituck Beach during a gale. Source: GenD.
Cape Lookout Dare Boat/Ship Dec. 27? 1865 30? Steamer Constitution struck shoals of Cape Lookout in Dense Fog. Source: GenD.
Chicamicomico Dare Boat/Ship Feb. 22 1889 11 Josie Troop from Nova Scotia, a cargo ship. Source: GenD.
Washington Beaufort Boat/Ship Jun. 28 1902 5 Tug J. L. Patterson overturned in storm while towing two schooners. Source: GenD.
Engelhard Hyde Boat/Ship Jan. 15 1915 5 Explosion of gas tank. Boat in Pamlico Sound
Southport Brunswick Boat/Ship Sept. 12 1928 5 Tank steamer Shreveport exploded at sea, off Frying Pan shoals. Four injured. 29 survivors. Source: Washington Post, 13SEP28.

Sources

GNA - Google News Archive
GenD - Gendisasters

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Copyright 2010 by Michael J. Legeros