Local man killed in plane crash
By RALPH HARDIN
23-year-old pilot struck radio tower while crop dusting
ralphhardin@gmail.com
A pilot was killed in a crop duster crash just east of Highway 75 near Parkin this past Saturday morning. The fatality was confirmed by Cross County Sheriff David West.
The 23-year-old pilot, identified as Charles Stokes of Marion, was killed after hitting wires connected to a radio tower in Parkin, according to the Cross County Sheriff’s Office.
Residents near the crash site say it took several minutes
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to locate the pilot. The crash site showed a grim scene, with the burned plane and a broken propeller as well as extensive smoke and _re damage.
Saturday’s crash marked the fourth reported plane crash of the year in the Mid-South area and the third to occur in Arkansas. The FAA and NTSB will be conducting an investigation into the crash.
Despite his young age, stokes was a seasoned pilot, ying at a young age. He obtained his private pilot’s license before he graduated high school and later obtained his commercial license. Charles began his career as a crop duster for Stokes Flying Services in Earle, AR in 2021.
Visitation and funeral services for Stokes will today beginning at 10 a.m., at Marion First United Methodist Church. The family requests that memorials be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Charles Stokes was killed when his plane crashed after hitting a radio tower guy wire during a crop dusting run.
Photo courtesy of Facebook
