Fatal Plane Crash Near Spartanburg Claims Two Lives, NTSB Investigates
Spartanburg, SC / Tabor City, NC – June 16, 2025 – Two individuals from Spartanburg County were killed on Saturday, June 14, when a plane that took off from Spartanburg Downtown Airport crashed near the South Carolina-North Carolina state border. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released, as authorities continue their investigation into the tragic incident.
The twin-engine Beechcraft Baron, with tail number N82UC, departed Spartanburg at approximately 11:30 a.m. EDT, with its intended destination being Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Flight tracking data indicates the plane was last seen on radar at 12:44 p.m. EDT, after it reportedly circled and flew over the North Carolina border, dropping off radar near Tabor City, North Carolina.
According to Chief Jeff Fowler with the Tabor City Fire Department, rescue crews were dispatched to a heavily wooded area around Old Dothan Road on Saturday afternoon following reports of a plane crash. Due to the dense terrain and adverse weather conditions at the time, it took crews nearly two hours, with assistance from a helicopter, to locate the downed aircraft.
Early reports suggest that the pilot was forced to divert from the intended flight path due to bad weather. A commercial pilot and flight instructor, Captain Robert Katz, who has over 40 years of experience, weighed in on the incident, stating that the pilot reportedly attempted to land at Grand Strand Airport during a thunderstorm, then abandoned the attempt and diverted north toward Tabor City. Radio traffic reportedly indicated that air traffic control at Grand Strand warned the pilot of a dangerously low altitude before contact was lost. Katz suggested that dangerous storm conditions were prevalent across the entire area at the time.
The wreckage was found scattered across a long swath through the woods, indicating a high-speed impact. The crash site has been secured, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
As of Monday, June 16, the NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and no official cause has been determined. Authorities have not released the names of the victims, pending notification of next of kin. Updates are expected as the investigation progresses.