The first Diamond DA40 (file photo, below) accident to involve fatalities occurred a few hours ago. N42SE, a Diamond DA40 registered to Accu Pad of Anderson, SC, went down in Pelzer SC, killing all three POB aboard, one of them a flight instructor. The accident reportedly occurred at 1013 local time with the first call into EMS listed at 1022. Greg Shore, the Anderson County Coroner, has confirmed those on board as Harry Alton "Chip" Moore, 52, of Anderson; Scott Burdick, 43, of Greer, and Brian Winstead, 46, of Anderson.

Weather conditions were listed as IFR, with low ceilings, limited visibility and light to moderate precip. The aircraft hit a powerline and a series of trees before impacting a field near a vacant house. The impact was reported to be significant and initial reports suggest that this was not a survivable accident. There was no significant post-crash fire reported. While a number of local media reports state that the aircraft debris was spread over a 500 yard path, local reports made directly to ANN, from those on the scene, indicate that the significant debris path is considerably more confined, and is less than 100 yards.

According to FAA sources, the aircraft had diverted from the Anderson SC airport to the nearby Donaldson Airport after a flight from Gainesville, FL -- though at least one FAA staffer is quoted in local media as reporting that the aircraft made a stop in Jacksonville, at Craig Field, before continuing to SC. The ILS at Anderson has been out of service for several weeks due to a runway construction project.

Two of the victims were associated with Accu Pad Inc., one of them being the owner of the company while the third, Burdick, was listed a CFI from Greenville, SC. N42SE is an early 2004 DA40, and was sold just a few months ago to the current owner, a silicone products manufacturer. It is an IFR capable, non-G1000 equipped, aircraft.

We'll have more information as soon as we can verify and update it. (ANN thanks Greg Beckner and the staff of the Anderson Independent-Mail for the use of the on-scene photo).

FMI: www.diamondair.com, www.dapo.org