Kate McAllister Neely Southern Pines NC Obituary

October 2, 2024

Four Adults and Child Identified in Fatal Outer Banks Plane Crash

The National Park Service has released the names of the four adults killed in a tragic plane crash at the Wright Brothers National Memorial airstrip on the Outer Banks. Among the victims were Jason Ray Campbell, 43, and Kate McAllister Neely, 39, from Southern Pines, NC; Shashwat Ajit Adhikari, 31, of Silver Spring, MD; and Matthew Arthur Fassnacht, 44, of Marietta, GA. A 6-year-old child was also a victim, though their identity remains undisclosed. The Cirrus SR22 aircraft crashed into nearby trees and caught fire, leaving no survivors.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently examining the cause of the crash, which occurred on Saturday, September 28. Witnesses reported the plane circling before veering off and crashing into the trees. Federal investigators are assessing the pilot’s qualifications, the aircraft’s condition, and the weather at the time of the accident.

The aircraft was owned by Pantheon Aviation LLC and had been flying multiple legs, leaving Pinehurst, NC, and arriving in Ocracoke before heading to Dare County Regional Airport and then to First Flight Airport. The crash occurred without a mayday call from the pilot.