Philip Porter dies in fatal Spartanburg plane crash

Philip Porter dies in fatal Spartanburg plane crash

Fatal Spartanburg plane crash death of Philip Porter

Philip Porter, aged 69 and a resident of Spartanburg County, was one of two people who lost their lives when a twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft went down on June 14 after departing from Spartanburg Downtown Airport.

The plane, which was headed for Grand Strand Airport in North Myrtle Beach, took off at 11:30 a.m. but never reached its destination. According to flight tracking data, the aircraft was last seen circling before redirecting north toward North Carolina. Radar lost contact at 12:44 p.m., and the wreckage was later located in a wooded area near Old Dothan Road, close to the South Carolina–North Carolina border.

Cheryle Porter, 66, also from Spartanburg County, was identified as the second victim in the crash. Both were aboard the aircraft when it crashed.

Officials noted that severe weather conditions were present along the plane’s intended flight path. Aviation expert Robert Katz stated the pilot had been warned about inclement weather near Myrtle Beach but continued on the route regardless. Katz explained the plane appeared to maneuver away from the destination before entering more intense storm conditions.

FAA data showed the plane climbed to nearly 6,850 feet shortly after takeoff. This same aircraft had completed the same route successfully on June 2, just twelve days prior to the crash.

The Beechcraft, built in 1972, was owned by Majesty Air, Inc., a Delaware company established in 2022. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which is examining both mechanical factors and pilot decision-making in the incident.