| legeros.com > History > North Carolina Deadliest Disasters |
Last updated December 28, 2014
This page is a catalog of all
multi-patient incidents and disasters EXCLUDING structural fires and explosions in North Carolina with
FIVE or more fatalities. Contact Mike Legeros to contribute or correct information.
Click a column heading to sort.
| Location | County | Incident | Date | Year | Deaths | Notes |
| Hendersonville | Henderson | Air, Civil | Jul. 19 | 1967 | 82 | Piedmont Flight 22. Boeing 727 vs. Cessna 310 at 6,132 feet. 12:01 p.m. Source: NTSB; web site. |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Air, Civil | Sept. 11 | 1974 | 72 | Eastern Flight 212. DC-9 on final approach to airport. One death 29 days later. 10 survivors. 7:34 a.m. Source: NTSB; wiki. |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Air, Civil | Jul. 2 | 1994 | 37 | USAir Flight 1016. DC-9 in residential area after missed approach. Plane encountered wind shear during adverse weather. 20 survivors. 6:43 p.m. Source: NTSB; wiki. |
| Bolivia | Brunswick | Air, Civil | Jan. 6 | 1960 | 34 | National Flight 2511. DC-6 caused by detonation of dynamite within passenger cabin. 2:38 a.m. Source: Various; wiki. |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Air, Civil | Jan. 8 | 2003 | 21 | US Airways Express Light 5481. Commuter jet into hangar during takeoff. 8:47 a.m. Source: NTSB; wiki. |
| Morrisville | Wake | Air, Civil | Dec. 13 | 1994 | 15 | American Eagle. Commuter plane on approach to RDU at night. Crashed about four miles short of runway. Five survivors. Source: NTSB. |
| Cary | Wake | Air, Civil | Feb. 19 | 1988 | 12 | American Eagle. Commuter plane during takeoff at RDU at night. Source: NTSB. Source: USA. |
| Chapel Hill | Orange | Air, Civil | Feb. 7 | 1981 | 7 | Cessna 340A. Collided with trees on final approach. Source: NTSB. |
| Cherry Point MCAS | Craven | Air, Civil / Air, Military |
Jan. 9 | 1983 | 7 | Beech D55 vs. McDonnell Douglas F4C about 30 miles south of Cherry Point. Two uninjured. Source: NTSB. |
| Tobaccoville | Forsyth | Air, Civil | Jan. 20 | 1968 | 6 | Piper PA-31. Source: NTSB. |
| Old Fort | McDowell | Air, Civil | Jul. 2 | 1971 | 6 | Beech S35. Crashed in adverse weather. Source: NTSB. |
| Greensboro | Guilford | Air, Civil | Apr. 13 | 1973 | 6 | Cessna 402A. Crashed after take-off. Source: NTSB. |
| Greenville | Pitt | Air, Civil | May 15 | 1992 | 6 | Piper PA-32-260. Crashed into wooden terrain shortly after take-off. Source: NTSB. |
| ? | Mecklenburg | Air, Civil | Jun. 3 | 1963 | 5 | Source: GNA |
| Shelby | Cleveland | Air, Civil | Dec. 3 | 1964 | 5 | Cessna 172. Source: NTSB. |
| RDU | Wake | Air, Civil | Feb. 21 | 1964 | 5 | Source: CFR history |
| Raleigh | Wake | Air, Civil | Feb. 25 | 1965 | 5 | Cessna 1982. Crashed in Crabtree Lake at Umstead Park after running out of fuel on approach to airport. All victims drowned with minor or no injuries. Source: NTSB. |
| Bolivia | Brunswick | Air, Civil | Jun. 18 | 1965 | 5 | Beechcraft 35C. Source: NTSB. |
| Trenton | Jones | Air, Civil | Jun. 30 | 1967 | 5 | Beech 95. Crashed after engine failure. Source: NTSB. |
| Morrisville | Wake | Air, Civil | Apr. 2 | 1970 | 5 | Cessna 401A. Crashed into trees on approach to airport. Source: NTSB. |
| Burnsville | Alamance | Air, Civil | Dec. 4 | 1971 | 5 | Piper PA-23. Source: NTSB. |
| Lenoir | Caldwell | Air, Civil | Nov. 26 | 1973 | 5 | Mooney M20C. Source: NTSB. |
| Bryson City | Swain | Air, Civil | Aug. 9 | 1977 | 5 | Cessna 172K. Crashed after take-off. Source: NTSB. |
| Sanford | Lee | Air, Civil | Sept. 8 | 1977 | 5 | Learjet 25B. Fire or explosion in flight after take-off. Source: NTSB. |
| Kitty Hawk | Dare | Air, Civil | Jul. 4 | 1979 | 5 | Cessna 172. Crashed in adverse weather. Source: NTSB. |
| Cherry Point MCAS | Craven | Air, Civil | Jan. 9 | 1983 | 5 | Source: NTSB. |
| Banner Elk | Avery | Air, Civil | Nov. 5 | 1983 | 5 | Cessna T210M. Crashed 1/2 mile after take-off. Source: NTSB. |
| Flat Rock | Henderson | Air, Civil | Aug. 23 | 1985 | 5 | Piper PA-31T. Source: NTSB. |
| Manteo | Dare | Air, Civil | Sept. 30 | 1987 | 5 | Beech 95-B55. Crashed into ocean while flying adjacent to shore. Source: NTSB. |
| Indian Trail | Union | Air, Civil | May 25 | 1998 | 5 | Bell 206L-3 helicopter. Crashed into wires in foggy conditions. Source: NTSB. |
| Mount Airy | Surry | Air, Civil | Mar. 1 | 2003 | 5 | Beech BE-36A. Crashed shortly after take-off. Source: NTSB. |
| Laurinburg-Maxton AAB | Robeson | Air, Military | Sept. 20 | 1943 | 25 | One of state's deadliest military aircraft accident happened the morning of Sept. 20, 1943, at Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base, two miles from Maxton. On a run to shuttle passengers, cargo, and official mail daily between "Pope Field" and Stout Field in Indianapolis, reported the News & Observer (9/20, 9/23), an Army transport crashed after take off. The plane burst into flames in woods near the end of the runway, and all 25 aboard were killed. It was also the first fatality at the base, which had been operating for more than a year. LMAAB was an installation of the First Troop Carrier Command, and was used for training air units including airborne infantry, glider pilots, and paratroopers. Source: N&O 21SEP43. |
| Pope AFB | Wayne | Air, Military | Mar. 23 | 1994 | 23 | 100 injured, F-16 vs. C-130 at 300 feet above runway. |
| Camp Lejeune | Onslow | Air, Military | Jun. 23 | 1967 | 22 | Helicopter collision at New River Marine air facility. HUE-1 and CH53-A Sea Stallion helicopters collided at 500 feet, at the end of a runway. Source: GenD. |
| Laurinburg-Maxton AAB | Robeson | Air, Military | Jun. 7 | 1943 | 20 | One of two C-47 transports that took off from Pope Field about 3 a.m., on flight to LMAAB. Encountering a thunderstorm, one plane turned back. Search party was dispatched about 5 a.m. and the wreckage and bodies of all aboard were found within sight of LMAAB. Crew of four and 16 passengers killed. Source: N&O. |
| Gingercake Mountain | Burke | Air, Military | May. 17 | 1943 | 18 | Army transport plane crashed into mountain, 25 miles of Morganton. Source: GenD. |
| Camp Lejeune | Onslow | Air, Military | May 10 | 1996 | 14 | Helicopter collision. |
| Camp Mackall | Scotland | Air, Military | Oct. 30 | 1943 | 14 | Transport plan, with four injured. Source: N&O 31OCT43 |
| Greenknob Mountain | Buncombe | Air, Military | Jun. 13 | 1944 | 10 | Army B-24 bomber on combat training struck the mountain at night. Source: GenD. |
| Cherry Point MCAS | Craven | Air, Military | Oct. 16 | 1975 | 9 | TC-4C on initial lift-off. |
| Blewett Falls Lake | Anson / Richmond | Air, Military | Apr. 29 | 1992 | 9 | C-130 transport based at Pope Air Force Base, about 40 miles east of crash site. Plane crashed into lake. |
| Elizabeth City | Pasquotank | Air, Military | Apr. 1? | 1943 | 8 | Navy patrol plane crashed at night into Albemarle Sound, 12 miles from Elizabeth City. Eight missing. Source: GenD. |
| Cherry Point MCAS | Craven | Air, Military | Mar. 7 | 1959 | 8 | |
| Burgaw | Pender | Air, Military | Jul. 5 | 1945 | 7 | Brazilian air force. |
| Fort Bragg | Cumberland | Air, Military | Mar. 30 | 1954 | 7 | C119 Flying Boxcar transport made emergency landing on narrow parade field, and crashed into a mess hall. Source: GenD. |
| Greensboro | Guilford | Air, Military | Feb. 4 | 1962 | 7 | Seven killed when C47 transport crashed and exploded immediately after takeoff at Greensboro-High Point Airport. The twin-engine plane apparently lost power about 150 feet off the ground, and plunged into a grassy area at the edge of the airport. The left wing struck first and its fuel tanks ignited. Two bodies were thrown clear of the flaming wreckage. Plane was en route from Guire AFB in NJ to its home field Elgin ALB in FL. Landed in G'bo about 4:00 p.m. to pick up an officer. Prior stop was in Philly. Source: Troy (NY) Times Record, 2/5/62 via Google. |
| Cherry Point MCAS | Craven | Air, Military / Air, Civil |
Jan. 9 | 1983 | 7 | Beech D55 vs. McDonnell Douglas F4C about 30 miles south of Cherry Point. Two uninjured. Source: NTSB. |
| Denton | Davidson | Air, Military | Mar. 30 | 1961 | 6 | B-52 lost control during refueling attempt. Crew ordered to bail out. Only six of eight crew members had ejector seats. Massive explosion when crashed off Silver Hill Mine Road. Crater visible for 40 miles. Source: GNA, web site |
| Fort Bragg | Cumberland | Air, Military | Jul. 2 | 1987 | 5 | C-130 on dirt runway, also struck jeep with one person. |
| Camp Mackall | Scotland | Air, Military | Feb. 19 | 1944 | 5 | Five men killed in a glider crash at night during a routine flight. Source: N&O, 20FEB44. |
| Various | Various | Flooding | Sep. 3 | 1913 | 12? | Floods and wind in Eastern North Carolina. Source: GenD. |
| Winston | Forsyth | Flooding | Nov. 2 | 1902 | 9 | Brick reservoir of Winston water works burst at the top of Trade Street Hill, sweeping away dwellings with .8 to 1.4 million gallons of water and drowning 9 people as they slept. Source: GenD. |
| Various | Various | Hurricane | Sept. 16 | 1999 | 51 | Hurricane Floyd. |
| Various | Various | Hurricane | Sept. 4-8 | 1996 | 24 | Hurricane Fran. |
| Various | Various | Hurricane | Oct. 15 | 1954 | 19 | Hurricane Hazel. |
| Bachelor Creek | Craven | Military Accident | May 26 | 1864 | 40 | Torpedoes being removed from railway cars killed 40 soldiers and civilians. Source: GenD. |
| Camp Mackall | Scotland | Military Accident | Feb. 16 | 1944 | 8 | Eight paratroopers drowned in Kenny Cameron Lake, when their pilots miscalculated the drop zone. Source: USA. |
| Highway 301 | Johnston | Military Accident | Mar. 7 | 1942 | 7 | Munitions truck explosion. Over 100 injured. Source: Various. |
| Fayetteville, Near | Cumberland | MVA | Jun. 6 | 1957 | 18 | One of the nation’s worst truck accidents at the time, the fiery crash of a tractor-trailer carrying potatoes and flatbed truck carrying 41 migrant laborers at intersection of Highway 301 and 102, nine miles north of Fayetteville. 19 injured. Source: GNA, NCCC. |
| Lumberton, near | Robeson | MVA | Oct. 3 | 1942 | 11 | Bus, gas tanker, and wagon. Source: GNA. |
| Kinston, near | Lenoir | MVA | Before Jul. 29 | 1964 | 10 | N&O index entry, July 29, 1964. Page 1. |
| Plymouth | Washington | MVA | Jul. 31, on or before |
1997 | 10 | High school students. Source: GNA. |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | MVA | Dec. 26 | 1931 | 9 | Hit by train. Source: GNA. |
| Halifax | Halifax | MVA | Before Aug 24 | 1964 | 9 | N&O index entry, Aug 24, 1964. Page 1. |
| Williamston | Martin | MVA | Oct. 17 | 1965 | 9 | Three-car crash. Source: GNA. |
| Wadesboro, in or near | Anson | MVA | Feb. 1 | 1970 | 9 | Fiery crash. Source: GNA. |
| Durham | Durham | MVA | Aug. 23 | 1996 | 8 | Tractor-trailer/van on I-85 north of Durham. The truck driver faced eight felony charges, resulted in mistrial on Sep. 22, 1997. Source: NCCC. |
| Lumberton | Roberson | MVA | Aug. 22 | 1933 | 7 | Truck carrying 12 farmers crashed into side of train. Source: GNA. |
| Wilson | Nash | MVA | Before Mar 1 | 1968 | 7 | N&O index entry, March 1, 1968. Page 1. |
| Havelock | Craven | MVA | Before Jun 1 | 1969 | 7 | N&O index entry, June 1, 1969. Page 11. |
| ? | MVA | Sept. 7 | 1971 | 7 | Head-on collision. Source: GNA. | |
| Wake County | Wake | MVA | Dec. 29 | 1976 | 7 | Bissette Road, unpaved road about mile south of Shotwell Community. Head-on collision between two cars with six and five occupants. Victims ranged in age from fourteen to twenty-one. Three of the seven died at the hospital. Source: N&O, December 30, 1976. |
| Snow Hill | Greene | MVA | May 21 | 1985 | 7 | School bus/tractor-trailer. Twenty injured. Source: NCCC. |
| Fayetteville | Cumberland | MVA | Nov. 29 | 1993 | 7 | Source: GNA. |
| Troutman | Iredell | MVA | Dec. 30 | 2003 | 7 | Police chase. Source: GNA. |
| Chadbourn | Columbus | MVA | May 14 | 1928 | 6 | 14 injured truck hit by train. Source: GNA. |
| Gastonia, near | Gaston | MVA | Jul. 16 | 1967 | 6 | Source: GNA. |
| Scotland Neck | MVA | Sat. before Mar. 18 | 1968 | 6 | US 258 just north of Scotland Neck. Head-on collision in a fog-shrouded curve. Four occupands and two occupants in the two cars. Source: N&O, March 18, 1968. | |
| Benson, near | Harnett | MVA | Sat. before Mar. 18 | 1968 | 6 | Interstate 95, four miles north of Benson. Car struck a tractor-trailer that had crossed the median and jackknifed. The truck landed on top of the car, which contained seven occupants. Source: N&O, March 18, 1968. |
| Lumberton | Robeson | MVA | Before Aug 21 | 1969 | 6 | Two injured. N&O index entry. August 21, 1969. Page 1. |
| Raleigh | Wake | MVA | Oct. 24, on or before |
1982 | 6 | Source: GNA. |
| Ramseur | Randolph | MVA | Dec. 15 | 1997 | 6 | Passenger car crossed center line on NC Highway 49 South. Fatalities included four-year-old girl traveling with her parents. Source: GNA, OH, NCCC. |
| ? | Chatham | MVA | June 23 | 1998 | 6 | Head-on crash on NC 902 near Harper's Crossroads about twelve miles south of Siler City. Two injured. |
| Raleigh | Wake | MVA | Nov. 1 | 2003 | 6 | MVA/Pedestrian accident at Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road. |
| Franklinton | Franklin | MVA | Nov. 5 | 1926 | 5 | Source: GNA. |
| Lucama | Nash | MVA | Dec. 10 | 1961 | 5 | Source: GNA. |
| Winston-Salem, Near | Forsythe | MVA | Before Feb. 3 | 1965 | 5 | N&O index entry, February 3, 1964, page 1. |
| Fuquay-Varina, near | Wake | MVA | Sunday Before Sep 19 | 1966 | 5 | Bass Lake Road about two-and-a-half miles north of Fuquay-Varina. Late-model convertible failed to make a curve, cross the road, apparently striking a culvert, and overturning, spilling occupants from open-toped car. Four died at the scene, and the fifth when arriving at the hospital. Source: N&O, September 19, 1966. |
| Henderson | Vance | MVA | Before Jan 28 | 1968 | 5 | N&O index entry, January 28, 1968. Page 1. |
| St. Pauls, near | MVA | Before Jan 11 | 1969 | 5 | Interstate 95, involving tractor-trailer. N&O index entry, January 11, 1969. Page 1. | |
| Salisbury, near | Rowan | MVA | Before May 26 | 1969 | 5 | Interstate 85. N&O index, May 26, 1969. Page 1. |
| Pinetops | MVA | Before Oct 15 | 1977 | 5 | N&O index entry. October 15, 1977. Page 1. | |
| Snow Hill | Lenoir | MVA | May, 31 | 1987 | 5 | Five students killed in bus accident. Source: State Archives N&O photo index. |
| ? | Pasquotank | MVA | Dec. 19, on or before |
1994 | 5 | Source: GNA. |
| Nashville | Nash | MVA | Oct. 3 | 1996 | 5 | Two cars. Three-year-old child, mother, and three adults killed. Source: NCCC. |
| Lumberton | Robeson | MVA | Dec. 20 | 1997 | 5 | I-85 near Lumberton. Five New Jersey residents killed with their van sideswiped a car on I-85 near South Carolina border. Source: NCCC. |
| ? | Columbus | MVA | Dec. 31 | 1997 | 5 | Head-on collision on US.74. Locals call road "Death Alley". Source: NCCC. |
| ? | MVA | Jan. 2 on or before |
1998 | 5 | Source: GNA. | |
| Rennert | Robeson | Railroad | Dec. 16 | 1943 | 74 | Collision and derailment of two trains. Most of the fatalities were servicemen. 54 injured. Source: web site. |
| Hamlet | Richmond | Railroad | Jul. 22 | 1906 | 29 | Collision of two trains one mile from Hamlet, passenger train versus freight train. 23 seriously hurt. Source: GenD. |
| Statesville | Iredell | Railroad | Aug. 26? | 1891 | 25 | Passenger train derails at Bostian's Bridge over Third Creek, two miles west of Statesville. Source: GenD. |
| Greensboro | Wayne | Railroad | Dec. 15 | 1909 | 12 | Passenger train on Southern Railway derails at Reedy Fork trestle, ten miles north of town. Injured total 25. Source: GenD. |
| Hamlet | Richmond | Railroad | Jul. 27 | 1911 | 8 | Collision of two trains in front of Hamlet roundhouse, passenger train versus freight train. 60 seriously hurt, 28 with minor injuries. Source: GenD. |
| Various | Various | Tornado | Mar. 28 | 1984 | 42 | Nine counties. |
| Various | Various | Tornado | Feb. 19 | 1884 | 23 | Two counties. |
| Various | Various | Tornado | Apr. 2 | 1936 | 14 | Guilford county (and maybe others?). |
| Various | Columbus | Tornado | Nov. 16 | 2006 | 8 | |
| Various | Various | Tornado | Apr. 5 | 1931 | 6 | Five counties in NC and VA. Source: GenD. |
| Various | Various | Tornado | Apr. 3 | 1974 | 6 | Two counties. |
| Roxobel | Bertie | Tornado | Apr. 20 | 1943 | 5 | Source: GenD. |
| Various | Various | Tornado | May 5 | 1989 | 5 | Two counties. |
| Farmville | Chatham | Mine | May 27 | 1925 | 53 | Coal Glen mine explosion. Source: Various. |
| Cumnock | Lee | Mine | Dec. 19 | 1895 | 39 | Coal mine. Explosion. Source: CDC. |
| Cumnock | Lee | Mine | May 23 | 1899 | 23 | Coal mine. Explosion. Source: CDC. |
| Altapass | Mitchell | Tunnel | May 13? | 1907 | 9 | Nine killed by explosion during construction of railroad tunnel. Source: GenD. |
| Wilmington? | New Hanover | Boat/Ship | Jun. 14 | 1838 | 150? | Steamer Pulaski suffered boiler explosion some 30 miles from land. Source: GenD. |
| Currituck Beach | Dare | Boat/Ship | Jan. 31 | 1878 | 150? | Steamer Metropolis struck outer bar off Currituck Beach during a gale. Source: GenD. |
| Nag's Head | Dare | Boat/Ship | Nov. 24 | 1877 | 98 | Steamer Huron. Source: GenD. |
| Ocracoke | Dare | Boat/Ship | Oct. 9 | 1837 | 95 | Steamer Home sprung a leak, and ran ashore six miles north of Ocracoke. Source: GenD. |
| Cape Lookout | Dare | Boat/Ship | Dec. 27? | 1865 | 30? | Steamer Constitution struck shoals of Cape Lookout in Dense Fog. Source: GenD. |
| Chowan River | Boat/Ship | Feb. 17 | 1903 | 17? | Steam passenger boat Olive, struck by tornado. Source: GenD. | |
| Chicamicomico | Dare | Boat/Ship | Feb. 22 | 1889 | 11 | Josie Troop from Nova Scotia, a cargo ship. Source: GenD. |
| ? | ? | Boat/Ship | Before Dec. 9 | 1968 | 7 | N&O index entry, December 9, 1968. Page 1. |
| Washington | Beaufort | Boat/Ship | Jun. 28 | 1902 | 5 | Tug J. L. Patterson overturned in storm while towing two schooners. Source: GenD. |
| Engelhard | Hyde | Boat/Ship | Jan. 15 | 1915 | 5 | Explosion of gas tank. Boat in Pamlico Sound |
| Southport | Brunswick | Boat/Ship | Sept. 12 | 1928 | 5 | Tank steamer Shreveport exploded at sea, off Frying Pan shoals. Four injured. 29 survivors. Source: Washington Post, 13SEP28. |
Copyright 2018 by Michael J. Legeros