RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A 911 call from air traffic controllers suggests that a co-pilot may have jumped from a damaged plane before the other pilot made an emergency landing in North Carolina, according to a recording of the call that was released Tuesday.
It's been unclear exactly how or why Charles Hew Crooks, 23, exited the small cargo plane on Friday afternoon about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Raleigh-Durham International Airport. He did not have a parachute, and his body was found in a backyard in the town of Fuquay-Varina.
Two unnamed Federal Aviation Administration employees can be heard telling a 911 dispatcher that the plane was heading to the airport. The pilot onboard had apparently told them that his co-pilot had “jumped out of the aircraft,” news outlets reported.
“We have a pilot that was inbound to the field," a controller told the 911 dispatcher, according to WRAL. “His co-pilot jumped out of the aircraft. He made impact to the ground and here are the coordinates.”
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The call lasted about 13 minutes, with the controllers stating several times that the co-pilot had jumped.
Wake County Emergency Management Chief of Operations Darshan Patel said the initial 911 call prompted the search for Crooks.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to its landing gear and fuselage, according to preliminary information gathered by the National Transportation Safety Board. The investigation is ongoing.
Counties with the worst commutes in North Carolina
Counties with the worst commutes in North Carolina
Commuting easily ranks as one of the least enjoyable parts of a person's day. Commuters encounter more physical health problems, and low-income commuters are less likely to gain financial stability—among a host of other negative impacts. And yet, America's commutes keep getting longer as people move farther away from the office, according to census data.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the worst commutes in North Carolina using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by longest average commute time according to 2020 5-year estimates.
#50. Wake County
- Average Commute Time: 25.6 minutes
--- 0.7 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 8.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 15.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.7%), carpooled (7.4%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (13.3%)
#49. Iredell County
- Average Commute Time: 25.6 minutes
--- 0.7 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.3%), carpooled (9.0%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (8.2%)
#48. Alleghany County
- Average Commute Time: 25.7 minutes
--- 0.8 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 17.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.8%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (6.7%)
#47. Caldwell County
- Average Commute Time: 25.8 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 39.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.1%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (0.7%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (4.0%)
#46. Moore County
- Average Commute Time: 25.8 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.5%), carpooled (7.5%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (7.6%)
#45. Richmond County
- Average Commute Time: 25.8 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (88.6%), carpooled (7.1%), walked to work (1.5%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (1.9%)
#44. Rowan County
- Average Commute Time: 25.8 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 38.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.0%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (4.2%)
#43. Wilkes County
- Average Commute Time: 25.8 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 9.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 24.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.1%), carpooled (11.3%), walked to work (0.6%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (5.2%)
#42. Northampton County
- Average Commute Time: 26 minutes
--- 1.1 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.6%), carpooled (10.1%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (3.0%)
#41. Pamlico County
- Average Commute Time: 26.1 minutes
--- 1.2 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 44.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (85.4%), carpooled (6.4%), walked to work (0.7%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (5.7%)
#40. Bertie County
- Average Commute Time: 26.1 minutes
--- 1.2 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 20.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 41.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.2%), carpooled (12.4%), walked to work (1.4%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (2.1%)
#39. Mecklenburg County
- Average Commute Time: 26.2 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 7.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.3%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (1.9%), public transportation (2.6%), worked from home (11.9%)
#38. Yadkin County
- Average Commute Time: 26.2 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 51.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.3%), carpooled (9.6%), walked to work (1.1%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.4%)
#37. Rockingham County
- Average Commute Time: 26.2 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.6%), carpooled (9.0%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (3.6%)
#36. Surry County
- Average Commute Time: 26.2 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.7%), carpooled (10.7%), walked to work (0.9%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (2.9%)
#35. Gaston County
- Average Commute Time: 26.4 minutes
--- 1.5 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.7%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (4.4%)
#34. Davie County
- Average Commute Time: 26.4 minutes
--- 1.5 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 52.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.8%), carpooled (9.7%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (5.2%)
#33. Lee County
- Average Commute Time: 26.5 minutes
--- 1.6 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.9%), carpooled (11.8%), walked to work (0.6%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (2.8%)
#32. Cherokee County
- Average Commute Time: 26.7 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 11.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.7%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (2.4%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (8.5%)
#31. Polk County
- Average Commute Time: 27.3 minutes
--- 2.4 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 11.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.4%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (1.4%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (8.8%)
#30. Warren County
- Average Commute Time: 27.4 minutes
--- 2.5 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 9.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 52.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.3%), carpooled (11.6%), walked to work (2.3%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (2.4%)
#29. Stanly County
- Average Commute Time: 27.4 minutes
--- 2.5 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 36.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.1%), carpooled (9.4%), walked to work (1.3%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.4%)
#28. Sampson County
- Average Commute Time: 27.7 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 11.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 38.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.4%), carpooled (11.2%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (3.1%)
#27. Duplin County
- Average Commute Time: 27.9 minutes
--- 3.0 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 20.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.7%), carpooled (13.4%), walked to work (1.3%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (3.7%)
#26. Cabarrus County
- Average Commute Time: 28.2 minutes
--- 3.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 11.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 49.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.9%), carpooled (8.8%), walked to work (0.5%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (8.6%)
#25. Greene County
- Average Commute Time: 28.2 minutes
--- 3.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 65.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.5%), carpooled (12.0%), walked to work (0.7%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (2.6%)
#24. Tyrrell County
- Average Commute Time: 28.5 minutes
--- 3.6 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 18.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.3%), carpooled (15.4%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (3.9%)
#23. Yancey County
- Average Commute Time: 28.6 minutes
--- 3.7 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 13.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.7%), carpooled (6.4%), walked to work (1.1%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (6.4%)
#22. Hertford County
- Average Commute Time: 28.9 minutes
--- 4.0 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 17.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 22.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 13.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.8%), carpooled (11.9%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (2.0%)
#21. Granville County
- Average Commute Time: 29.2 minutes
--- 4.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.9%), carpooled (8.1%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (6.0%)
#20. Pasquotank County
- Average Commute Time: 29.2 minutes
--- 4.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 17.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 13.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.7%), carpooled (10.7%), walked to work (2.3%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.8%)
#19. Chatham County
- Average Commute Time: 29.3 minutes
--- 4.4 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.7%), carpooled (7.4%), walked to work (2.5%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (12.3%)
#18. Columbus County
- Average Commute Time: 29.3 minutes
--- 4.4 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 11.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 18.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 24.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (86.0%), carpooled (9.4%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (2.4%)
#17. Jones County
- Average Commute Time: 29.5 minutes
--- 4.6 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 23.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 75.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.6%), carpooled (10.6%), walked to work (0.4%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (3.1%)
#16. Stokes County
- Average Commute Time: 29.6 minutes
--- 4.7 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 9.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 11.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 67.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (88.7%), carpooled (7.4%), walked to work (0.4%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (3.2%)
#15. Hoke County
- Average Commute Time: 29.7 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 67.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.8%), carpooled (9.7%), walked to work (0.9%), public transportation (1.1%), worked from home (4.8%)
#14. Union County
- Average Commute Time: 29.9 minutes
--- 5.0 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 11.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 41.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.7%), carpooled (9.0%), walked to work (0.9%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (10.2%)
#13. Lincoln County
- Average Commute Time: 30.2 minutes
--- 5.3 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.7%), carpooled (8.0%), walked to work (0.1%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (5.8%)
#12. Person County
- Average Commute Time: 30.8 minutes
--- 5.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 14.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 43.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.4%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (1.4%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (6.2%)
#11. Caswell County
- Average Commute Time: 31 minutes
--- 6.1 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 9.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 18.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (86.1%), carpooled (10.0%), walked to work (0.2%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (2.4%)
#9. Madison County
- Average Commute Time: 31.4 minutes
--- 6.5 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 11.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 56.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.6%), carpooled (6.6%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (9.9%)
#8. Johnston County
- Average Commute Time: 31.4 minutes
--- 6.5 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 51.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.5%), carpooled (8.8%), walked to work (0.8%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (7.1%)
#7. Pender County
- Average Commute Time: 31.5 minutes
--- 6.6 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 11.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 56.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.0%), carpooled (9.7%), walked to work (0.7%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (7.5%)
#6. Camden County
- Average Commute Time: 31.8 minutes
--- 6.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 15.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 26.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 43.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.7%), carpooled (7.5%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (5.4%)
#5. Harnett County
- Average Commute Time: 31.9 minutes
--- 7.0 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 13.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 63.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.9%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (1.3%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (3.6%)
#4. Franklin County
- Average Commute Time: 32.8 minutes
--- 7.9 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 66.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.7%), carpooled (8.5%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (5.6%)
#3. Perquimans County
- Average Commute Time: 34.4 minutes
--- 9.5 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 21.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 18.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (85.7%), carpooled (9.4%), walked to work (0.5%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (3.5%)
#2. Currituck County
- Average Commute Time: 35.1 minutes
--- 10.2 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 14.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 18.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.1%), carpooled (10.4%), walked to work (0.7%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.8%)
#1. Gates County
- Average Commute Time: 36.9 minutes
--- 12.0 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 24.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 22.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (88.6%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (0.2%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (2.0%)
