Pilot dies in Brunswick County plane crash

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Florida man is dead after going down in a plane crash in Brunswick County Friday morning.

North Carolina Highway Patrol said Daniel Simard, 57, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was killed when the single-engine M18 fertilizer plane he was flying went down near Winnabow.

Highway Patrol said Simard took off to spray the area around 8:50 a.m. with 45 minutes of fuel. Around 11:30 a.m., the North Carolina Forest Service was notified Simard hadn’t returned.

Brunswick County Sheriff’s Officials then began looking for the small plane near the Green Swamp and Bear Pen Airport off of Highway 211. The Highway Patrol, North Carolina Emergency Management, Brunswick County Emergency Services and forestry officials also helped look for the plane, and set up a command post at Bear Pen Airport. Numerous planes and helicopters were used in the search.

The crash site was located around 6:20 p.m., using cell phone signals.

Authorities, who are now in the process of recovering the wreckage, said they notified the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Highway Patrol is in the process of securing the site and no one will be allowed in the area until the FAA arrives.

The Forestry Service is working to cut a path through the woods to conduct the recovery effort.