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Two Chowan County men dead in fatal Suffolk plane crash: Police

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Posted at 1:52 PM, Jan 07, 2023
and last updated 2023-01-08 14:37:54-05

SUFFOLK, Va. — Two North Carolina men died in a plane crash on Saturday, Jan. 7 in Suffolk, according to Virginia State Police.

Authorities say around 12:16 p.m., a small passenger plane, described as a Piper PA-28 by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), crashed in the 3900 block of Carolina Road and was “fully engulfed in fire.” This escalated into a large brush fire, according to Suffolk Fire & Rescue.

The Suffolk Fire Department described the fire as "rapidly progressing." Due to the threat it posed to the surrounding homes, residents were evacuated.

The fire has since been contained, and the department says it is now marked as "under control."

Saturday night, with help from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the two North Carolina men killed in the crash have been identified as Christian Rask Fauchald, 54, and Eric John Bergevin, 53, of Edenton.

Virginia State Police's investigation is still ongoing. Meanwhile, State Police told News 3 the FAA and NTSB will be onsite Sunday to continue their investigation as well.

This is a developing story. Stay with News 3 for updates.