On Sunday, August 13, a small plane collided with a power line and plunged into Lake Hickory in western North Carolina, resulting in two fatalities.
The two victims have been identified as Jeffrey Jay Cooley, 63, of Granite Falls, and Brian Miller, 49, of Hickory.
The crash occurred at around 11:30 am. Sarah Killian, a spokesperson for the city of Hickory, said that the accident caused an immediate power outage that affected over 10,000 customers during midday. Local news outlets reported the disruption, but Duke Energy restored electricity by early Sunday afternoon after rerouting efforts.
The aircraft, a single-engine Scoda Aeronautica Super Petrel, had taken off from Hickory Regional Airport and was carrying the two people when it crashed into Lake Hickory.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is collaborating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident. This joint effort aims to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The accident, which occurred in the heart of Lake Hickory, prompted responses from several agencies across Alexander, Caldwell, and Catawba counties.
Spanning more than 4,000 acres and bordered by the city and the three counties, Lake Hickory is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other water-based recreational activities.
