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One killed and another injured after small plane falls from sky and crashes in Georgia woods
A single-engine plane crashed into woodland near homes in Lawrenceville, Georgia, after a reported engine problem and an attempted emergency landing. One occupant died and the other was injured; the crash is under investigation, with the specific mechanical failure not yet known.
Firefighters found Eric Stephens and Peter Magnuson trapped in the wreckage near Old Athens Road on Tuesday at about 5.30pm. Stephens, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Magnuson was taken to hospital with injuries officials said were not life-threatening. The flight had been airborne for about 90 minutes and went down roughly one mile south-east of Gwinnett County Airport; a driver called 911 after noticing movement near the wreckage.
In short
- Eric Stephens died in the Lawrenceville plane crash.
- Peter Magnuson was rescued and taken to hospital.
- Investigators have not identified the engine failure.
Explained simply
Lawrenceville is in Gwinnett County, north-east of Atlanta, and Gwinnett County Airport serves private and general aviation flights. A single-engine aircraft is powered by one engine, so an engine problem can leave a pilot with fewer options for maintaining flight or choosing where to land.
The Federal Aviation Administration investigates civil aircraft accidents and works to establish what happened, including whether a mechanical fault played a part. The cause of this crash has not been confirmed, and investigators’ findings will help clarify how the aircraft came down and whether safety measures need review.