Upstate Father—Veteran—Dies In Ultralight Plane Crash

A Mauldin man has died after an ultralight plane crash in northern Greenville County Saturday.

The man’s son, who helped build the plane, videotaped the fatal flight. He spoke exclusively with NewsChannel 7’s Jonathan Carlson Sunday, about who his father was.

70 year old Charles Keeler Sr., known as “Budd” to family and friends, died after the ultralight he was flying spiraled downward and struck the ground at a small airstrip off of Pumpkintown Road in Marietta.

Keeler and his son, Charles Keeler, Jr. had been building the plane for the past four months, and took it for a test flight. Keeler Sr. was pronounced dead at the scene after the accident.

According to family, Keeler Sr. was an experienced pilot, who served for decades in the military, and was an Upstate native.

His son told us, “He had the biggest smile on his face when he was up in that plane yesterday—that touched me—I was happy for him—thats what I wanted to see. But I didnt want to see what happened after that.“

He continued, “But I know he’s with the lord now.“