Greenville man killed, brother rescued in North Carolina plane crash

(Penrose, NC-AP) July 11, 2005 - A Greenville man has died and his brother has been injured in a plane crash in North Carolina.

The plane went down in the Penrose community of Transylvania County in North Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Sheriff's deputies say 48-year-old David Sikkelee Jr. died in the crash. His 47-year-old brother Craig Sikkelee was in critical condition at Mission Hospitals in Asheville, North Carolina.

A passing nurse managed to pull Craig Sikkelee from the plane minutes after it crashed in Transylvania County. The second man, David Sikkelee Junior of Greenville, died when flames consumed the cockpit after a desperate struggle to free him from his seat harness.

Officials say the Cessna crashed near an old asphalt plant near a small airport where the plane had just taken off. Detective Brian Kreigsman says the men had come to the area for a meeting.

Sheriff's deputies said they don't know what caused the crash. They're waiting for investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board to arrive.

Posted 7:38am by Bryce Mursch