Diamond Aircraft DA40-180 accident near Pelzer, SC
On December 9, 2004, a Diamond Aircraft DA40-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pelzer, SC. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 9, 2004
- Place
- Pelzer, SC
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft DA40-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.639°N, 82.500°W
- NTSB ID
- 20041230X02041
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 9, 2004, at 1013 eastern standard time, a Diamond Aircraft DA40-180, N42SE, registered to and operated by Accu Pad, Inc., collided with a power line, trees and subsequently the ground while on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 05, at Donaldson Center Airport, in Pelzer, South Carolina. The flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and instrument flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The certified flight instructor, and two passengers received fatal injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Jacksonville, Florida, on December 9, 2004, at about 0800. At 0957, the pilot established radio contact with Greer control tower while flying at 8,000 feet. The tower controller advised the pilot to expect the ILS Runway 5 approach at Anderson. According to airport notice to airmen, runway 5 threshold was displaced 885 feet and the glide slope middle marker approach lights and papi were all out of service. At 1000, the pilot requested a lower altitude and was told to descend and maintain 4,000 feet. The tower controller also told the pilot that weather conditions at Anderson were "below localizer or glide slope altitude minimums". The tower then asked the pilot if he wanted to divert to his alternate. The pilot told the tower controller that he did not have an alternate airport filed. The tower controller advised the pilot that Donaldson Center Airport was nearby, and asked if he w
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow IFR procedures and to maintain assigned altitude resulting in a collision with a transmission wire and trees.
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Browse: South Carolina · Diamond aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
