Witness Finds Survivors in Lawrenceville Plane Wreckage

Seth Bilstin was driving home from work at about 5:30 p.m. on November 10 when he spotted wreckage in the woods near Winder Highway and Backus Drive. He approached the plane, saw movement inside and called 911. The witness said emergency crews arrived within minutes and described the scene as frightening.

Firefighters found two men trapped in the single-engine aircraft. Eric Stephens, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene. Peter Magnuson was rescued and taken to a hospital. Officials initially said his injuries were not life-threatening; police had not provided a further update on his condition.

The plane went down about a mile from Gwinnett County Airport. Fire officials said the flight had departed from Briscoe Field, and that the pilot tried to make an emergency landing after reporting an engine problem. Investigators have not identified the specific mechanical failure or determined the cause of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board was at the scene on November 11, while crews prepared to remove the aircraft from the woods.