A preliminary report into a fatal plane crash earlier this month at Lake Hartwell says the single-engine airplane collided with terrain following an “in-flight breakup.” The crash killed four men, including a two-time champion sprint race car driver, two former high school football coaches and one of the former coach’s sons. All four were from Warsaw, Indiana and were flying into South Carolina on Oct. 2 to attend the Clemson-Notre Dame football game when they were killed.
According to the preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board, the plane was flying at 6,000 feet and had been cleared for approach to the runway at Oconee County Regional Airport in Clemson when the controller lost contact with the pilot. Radar contact was lost over Lake Hartwell at about 2,200 feet.
Local residents reported hearing and seeing the airplane prior to the accident. The NTSB report states:
“One witness heard a loud “boom,” followed by white pieces of debris falling into the lake. Another witness saw the airplane descending vertically, in a spiral motion, until it disappeared behind a tree line. Another witness reported that the engine was running until ground impact.”
Several witnesses reported the event to 911 and the wreckage was located by first responders soon after. The main wreckage was found “inverted” in a wooded area about 50 yards north of the shoreline of Lake Hartwell near Westminster. The report states, “Damage to trees was indicative of a near-vertical descent angle at impact.” There was no fire.
About ten percent of the tail of the plane was found near the south shoreline near Toccoa.
READ: Four Killed in Lake Hartwell Plane Crash
Killed in the crash were the pilot, 71-year-old Charles Smith, his 44-year old son Scott Smith, 54-year-old Tony Elliott, and 51-year-old Scott Bibler.
According to the NTSB, David Smith was a certified private pilot who reported more than 1,400 hours of total flight time on his most recent FAA application.
At the time the NTSB issued its preliminary findings the wreckage was still not fully recovered. The investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
(PHOTO/Greenville Online)
