Two executives of Southern Community Financial Corp. are recovering from serious -- but not life-threatening -- injuries they received in a plane crash in southeastern Buncombe County on Tuesday.
Scott Bauer, the chairman and chief executive of the bank, said yesterday that Jim Monroe, the bank's treasurer, and Jim Hastings, its chief financial officer, had some broken bones and facial cuts.
"We are so thankful they will recover, and for all the rescue and hospital staff who helped them," Bauer said.
"They are resting comfortably today, but it will be several weeks to recovery. God was with them."
Bauer said that the men were scheduled to be part of an executive-management presentation to customers and shareholders in the Asheville area, where Southern has a branch.
Bauer said that three other officials from its seven-member executive team -- himself; Jeff Clark, the president of Southern; and Rob Davis, an executive vice president and commercial-banking executive -- drove to the presentation.
"We do have rules on flights to split executives up," Bauer said. "Jeff, Jim Hastings and I do not fly together to protect the bank."
The plane, a four-seat Mooney M20, took off about 4:15 p.m. from Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem.
The plane crashed about 5:20 p.m. near the Fairview community because of engine failure, according to media reports. The two men were taken by medical helicopter to an Asheville hospital.
The crash occurred as the plane's pilot tried to land in a cornfield, clipped a tree and flipped the plane as it hit the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are planning to investigate.
FAA officials declined to identify the plane's pilot.
Monroe is the registered owner of the plane.
rcraver@wsjournal.com
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