Fans who turned out Thursday night at the Kinston (North Carolina) Drag Strip to watch racers compete for a shot at the “252 List” were witness to a horrifying scene as a small plane went out of control and crashed on the raceway property, just southeast of the shutdown area. Law enforcement officials later confirmed the pilot of the craft died in the incident.

According to eyewitness and dispatch reports the, accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. and possibly involved a crop dusting craft.

“He came across the side of the drag strip, across that tree line and he was flying real low like he was about to crop dust but we didn’t see dust or didn’t see him spraying nothing,” spectator Braxton Outlaw told Neuse News of how the plane was flying prior to the crash. “Then he went up straight in the air and did a loop, like twisted it, and then came straight down,” Braxton added.

“At approximately 8:30 this evening we were alerted to a plane crash out here at the Kinston Drag Strip,” said Sandy Bottom Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Daniel Chewning. “We do have trucks on standby any time they are racing so I had an apparatus here that was quick to respond to the scene. They were racing, the only thing we know as of now, is that a plane came into view and crashed into the drag strip.”

The Lenoir County EMS, Sandy Bottom Fire Department, Lenoir County Sheriffs Department, and State Highway Patrol all responded to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a further investigation on Friday.

“As most would imagine, or KDS family is still in shock and at a loss for words after last night,” the KDS staff said in a social media statement. “For those that don’t know, a plane crashed right at the first turn-off around 8:30 as our Jr. Dragsters were racing. The plane was being flown by an individual that is near and dear to the hearts of many of our racers and KDS staff. Out of respect, we will not post pictures or details nor answer questions relating to the crash, as we do not know the how or why. We want to send prayers and condolences to the family and friends of our friend who lost his life doing what he loved. Secondly, the KDS staff was amazing down at the scene. Thanks so much to them, Sandy Bottom Fire and Rescue (which we always have on the property when racing), first responders of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, EMS and all other entities as well as our awesome racing family that helped us manage the scene and keep everyone safe.

“There is no family like the racing family we have. We love you all and please give us time to get ourselves figured back out as we deal with this loss and prepare to go back racing.”