#GeneralAviation | AM 1180 Radio

September 16, 2026

DeKalb County Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash Near Fort Payne

Local News, Local News Items #AircraftCrash, #alabamanews, #AviationAccident, #AviationSafety, #BreakingNews, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #DeKalbCountyAL, #DeKalbCountyEMA, #DeKalbCountyNews, #DeKalbCountySheriffsOffice, #DouglasEmge, #EmergencyResponse, #FAA, #FederalAviationAdministration, #firstresponders, #FortPayneAL, #FortPayneNews, #GeneralAviation, #LocalNews, #NortheastAlabama, #NortheastAlabamaNews, #northwestgeorgia, #Pilot, #PlaneCrash, #PublicSafety, #RegionalNews, #SmallPlaneCrash, #WhitonAL, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A 62-year-old DeKalb County man was killed Tuesday morning when the small plane he was piloting crashed near Fort Payne.

The victim has been identified as Douglas Emge of DeKalb County, Alabama. DeKalb County EMA officials said Emge was the only person aboard the aircraft when it crashed on September 15.

The crash occurred near the 4700 block of County Road 3 in the Whiton community, near the Whiton water tank.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash at around 8 AM Tuesday and asked the public to avoid the area as emergency crews responded.

Federal Aviation Administration records list Emge as the registered owner of the aircraft, identified as N469TW.

Residents near the crash site reported hearing the crash and seeing flames and smoke from the wreckage. Some neighbors said they had known Emge and his family for years and were saddened by his death.

Emge’s family has been notified.

The Federal Aviation Administration responded to the scene and is investigating the crash.

September 15, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash Near Fort Payne

Local News, Local News Items #AircraftCrash, #alabamanews, #AviationAccident, #AviationSafety, #BreakingNews, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #DeKalbCountyAL, #DeKalbCountyNews, #DeKalbCountySheriffsOffice, #EmergencyResponse, #FAA, #firstresponders, #FortPayne, #FortPayneAirport, #FortPayneAL, #GeneralAviation, #IsbellField, #LocalNews, #NortheastAlabama, #NortheastAlabamaNews, #northwestgeorgia, #NTSB, #Pilot, #PlaneCrash, #PublicSafety, #RegionalNews, #SmallPlaneCrash, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A pilot was killed in a small plane crash near Fort Payne in DeKalb County, Alabama, Tuesday morning.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reported the aircraft went down near Fort Payne. The pilot was the only person aboard the plane and was killed in the crash.

The crash was reported in the area of Isbell Field, Fort Payne’s municipal airport. Isbell Field is located about two miles north of Fort Payne.

The identity of the pilot had not been released in initial reports.

Information about where the aircraft originated, its intended destination and what may have caused the crash was not immediately available.

Federal aviation authorities are expected to investigate the accident.