Falcon 50 Skidded Off The Runway At Greenville Downtown Airport Last Thursday

The two pilots who were aboard a Dassault Falcon 50 jet that was involved in a runway excursion at Greenville Downtown Airport last Thursday were not type rated in the jet, according to the FAA. Both pilots Stephen Fox and John Caswell were fatally injured in the accident.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that authorities have determined that Caswell was the pilot of the airplane, but he was not rated to serve as "Pilot in Command" of a Falcon 50 and was qualified for "Second in Command Privileges" for that aircraft.

The other pilot, Stephen Fox, was not rated for jets at all, holding only a Private Pilot Certificate for VFR flight.

Caswell did hold an ATP certificate and was type rated in Learjets and Gulfstream jets, according to FAA records.

Logbooks show that Caswell had some 11,600 hours to his credit, while Fox had about 5,500 hours, according to the NTSB.

The accident occurred after the airplane had landed at Greenville at 1:40 p.m. under VFR conditions. After touching down, it skidded off the runway and fell down a 40- to 50-foot embankment, and the airplane broke into two pieces behind the cockpit. Caswell died at the scene, while Fox was transported to a hospital where he passed away.

There were two passengers aboard the aircraft at the time of the accident. They have been identified only as a married couple. The flight had originated in St. Petersburg, FL, but the airport of origin has not been reported.

“NATA is monitoring developments surrounding the fatal aircraft accident in Greenville, South Carolina on September 27th.  While it is far too early to confirm the details of the accident, what has been alleged is troubling and NATA will continue to follow the investigation to see what it reveals,” stated Tim Obitts, NATA Executive Vice President. “The reports that have surfaced from the media are worrisome. The FAA and NTSB will examine all aspects of the flight to fully understand all of the factors related to the accident.”

(Image from security camera video)

FMI: Original report