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Indian Trail, NC (March 9, 2026) – A small airplane crashed into a cow pasture Sunday afternoon, March 9, leaving two people injured and the aircraft heavily damaged. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. along North Rocky River Road near Lawyers Road, about a mile from Goose Creek Airport.

Emergency units arrived to find the passenger ejected from the plane, while the pilot remained trapped and needed to be cut free. The passenger was airlifted to a hospital, and the pilot was taken by ambulance after being freed. Doug Rowell, the cattle farmer who owns the pasture, said he heard a loud bang and was alerted by a nearby resident. He helped the men at the scene, noting one had a back injury and the other a cut on his forehead. Rowell confirmed that none of his cows were harmed.

Debris from the plane, including a broken left wing, was scattered across the field. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as they become available. Our thoughts are with those affected as they continue to recover.

How Small Plane Crashes Are Assessed

When a small aircraft crash occurs, investigators often focus on the plane, the pilot, and environmental conditions to understand what happened. Aircraft type, maintenance records, and flight history are reviewed to identify any mechanical issues. Weather conditions, visibility, and terrain near the crash site are also considered. Emergency responders examine the scene for evidence, including debris patterns and impact points, which can show how the plane struck the ground. Medical reports from injured passengers provide context about forces involved during the crash. Collectively, these details help experts form a clearer picture of why the accident occurred and how similar incidents might be prevented.

INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. (WBTV) - A small airplane crashed into a cow pasture in Union County over the weekend, leaving two people hurt and the aircraft in pieces.

The crash happened around 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, when the plane went down into a pasture along near Lawyers Road in the Indian Trail area.

Soon after the crash, the said a passenger was ejected from the plane, while the pilot was pinned in and had to be cut out. The passenger was airlifted to a hospital and the pilot was taken by ambulance once he got out.

Doug Rowell -- the cattle farmer who owns the pasture -- said he heard “a big bang,” and a woman who lives nearby called him and told him there was an airplane in the enclosure.

Rowell said he is a fourth-generation farmer and had never seen anything like what happened Sunday. He was one of the first people to the airplane after it made impact and said he saw the one person outside the plane, and told the one still entrapped not to get out until emergency crews could help him.

The cattle farmer said one of the men was complaining of pain in his back and the other had a bad cut on his forehead.

“It just wasn’t on my agenda for today, I guess,” Rowell said of the crash. “But just glad and thankful, praise God that nobody got hurt seriously.”

Rowell said none of the cows were hurt.

Pictures and video of the wreckage showed the plane’s left wing was broken off with other debris scattered in the pasture.

The pasture where the airplane crashed is only about a mile from Goose Creek Airport

The sheriff’s office said North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were investigating. There was no word on what caused the crash as of early Monday morning.

The airplane had a tail number of N98360. FAA associated with the tail number showed the plane was a single-engine, Piper PA-28-140. It was registered to JT’s Aircraft LLC in Rock Hill, S.C.

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The passenger was ejected from the plane but the pilot had to be cut out by first responders.

INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — Two people are injured after a plane crashed in Union County Sunday afternoon.

The crash was reported in the 5800 block of North Rocky River Road around 2 p.m., according to the sheriff's office.

The plane took off from Goose Creek Airport, a small airport used for pilot training, skydiving and more, in Indian Trail, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office.

The plane crashed in a cow pasture near the airport.

The passenger was ejected from the plane but the pilot had to be cut out of the aircraft by first responders, the sheriff's office said.

Doug and Kathlyn Rowell, the owners of the cow pasture, were shocked when they heard a big boom.

"We got a call from the young lady who lives in this house and she said a plane was in our pasture," Kathlyn said. "We were just shocked."

In pictures, the left side of the plane saw immense damage.

"Took off a wing and one wing is still intact," Doug said.

First responders were able to rescue both injured. The passenger was found and airlifted to the hospital. The pilot was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

“We’re just happy everyone was safe, all the cows were safe, and they were able to get them to the hospital alive," Kathlyn said. "Hopefully they’re fairing well.”

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash. The NTSB expects a preliminary report within 30 days.

The cause of the crash is currently unknown. More details to follow.

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — An aircraft took off around 2 p.m. Sunday from Goose Creek Airport. It only got a few miles downrange before running into trouble.

The single engine aircraft crashed into a cow pasture.

“Heard the crash when it landed. When it hit the ground, the lady who lives in our house here, she called me and said a plane was down in a pasture,” said Doug Rowell, property owner. “So, I came to check.”

Doug and his wife Kathlyn rushed to the scene to see if they could help and found that both the pilot and his passenger were in pain.

The pilot had to be cut free from the aircraft. The passenger was ejected from the plane.

“But the door on the pilot’s side looks like it might have hit the tree ‘cause it was dented in pretty good and that might be why he was in so much pain,” Kathlyn said.

The Rowells helped the victims get medical treatment and took pictures and videos of the accident. Both the pilot and passenger were taken to the hospital, one of them by helicopter.

One of the wings was sheared off. So was a wheel.

“Yeah, they are fortunate the plane is not terrible. It lost a wing, lost a wheel, but it could have been a lot worse,” Kathlyn said.

The passenger initially declined medical attention, which shocked Kathlyn.

“I was quite surprised because he was in pretty bad shape,” Kathlyn said. “His gash was side to side and it was deep. I’m sure he probably had a concussion.”

This was as much excitement as the usual residents of the pasture have had in some time.

Doug said his cows are OK.

“Yep, everybody is good,” he said. “They great, very inquisitive. They had the plane surrounded.”

The Federal Aviation Administration says both victims are in stable condition. Investigators have not had a chance to talk to them.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. So far it’s early, and there is no word on what caused this accident.

This is a developing story. Check back with for updates.

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INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — An Indian Trail man was arrested last week and charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor following a cyber tip regarding illegal uploads to Snapchat, the Union County Sheriff’s Office said. Brian Coronado Toledo remains in custody after authorities seized electronic devices from his residence.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office received the tip from the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Investigators determined that child sexual abuse material was being uploaded to the social media platform from a home in Indian Trail.

During the execution of a search warrant at the Indian Trail residence, the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation seized several electronic devices, the sheriff said.

While on the scene, investigators developed probable cause to charge Toledo with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Following the initial arrest, authorities located more child sexual abuse material on the seized devices.

This discovery led to four additional charges of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor against Toledo.

Toledo appeared before a judicial official and was denied bond.

The decision followed statements Toledo made to investigators indicating he intended to flee to his home country of Colombia if he were released.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey credited the arrest to the collaborative efforts of local and state authorities.

He highlighted the daily operations of the agency’s Special Victims Unit.

“I’m mighty proud of the hard work our Special Victims Unit puts in day in and day out,” Cathey said. “Working hand in hand with our partners at the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, we’re making sure the people who target children are held accountable. There’s no place in this county for predators and we’ll keep doing everything we can to get them off our streets and keep our kids safe.”

The investigation into the uploaded material remains ongoing. Authorities stated that additional charges are expected in the case.

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