Pilot Diverted To Alternate Airport After Missed Approach
Editor's Note: The
following is the unedited NTSB Preliminary Report on a January 4 accident near Columbia (SC)
Metropolitan Airport, that claimed the lives
of the three people onboard.
NTSB Identification: ATL07FA031
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, January 04, 2007 in Columbia, SC
Aircraft: Cessna 182P, registration: N55YS
Injuries: 3 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On January 4, 2007, at 2337 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182P
[file photo of type, below], N55YS, registered to Four Seasons LLC,
operated by M.B. Kahn Construction Company Inc., as a 14 CFR Part
91 business flight, collided with trees and the ground, while
maneuvering during an instrument approach, in the vicinity of
Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Columbia, South Carolina. Instrument
meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed and an instrument flight
rules flight plan (IFR) was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The
airline transport rated pilot, and two passengers were fatally
injured. The flight originated from Newport News Williamsburg
International Airport, Newport News, Virginia, on January 4, 2007,
at 2028.
Personnel from the FAA Columbia Approach Control stated the
pilot was cleared for a Localizer Runway 31 approach at Columbia
Owens Downtown Airport, Columbia, South Carolina, at 2316. The
pilot made a missed approach and diverted to his alternate airport
at 2320. The pilot was then radar vectored for the ILS Runway 11
approach at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, and was cleared for the
ILS Runway 11 approach at 2331. The pilot acknowledged the
clearance at 2332 and was instructed to contact the FAA Columbia
Metropolitan Airport Air Traffic Control Tower. The pilot
acknowledged the instructions and no further contact was
established between the pilot and air traffic control (ATC). ATC
received six low altitude-warning alerts from the radar system and
lost radar contact with the airplane at 2337.
The Columbia Metropolitan Airport, ATC Control Tower personnel
notified the fire department that radar contact had been lost with
the Cessna 182 about 1 mile west of runway 11. Three fire
department units were dispatched in a dense fog to search for the
missing airplane, which was unsuccessful. A command post/staging
area was set up, search grids were established for responding law
enforcement personnel, and a foot search was initiated. A runway
and ramp check was initiated which was unsuccessful. A State Law
Enforcement Detachment helicopter arrived on scene on January 5,
2007, and the helicopter pilot located the wreckage at about
0630.