Two Dead In Accident Shortly After Take-Off From Birmingham

The pilot of a Cessna 441 that went down shortly after take-off from Birmingham International Airport (AL) Wednesday has been identified through dental records. The Jefferson County Coroner's office says 56-year old John Wayne DeLamater and 44-year old Melia Warrington were killed when the aircraft crashed minutes after take-off, at around 2:21 pm Wednesday. The Cessna was on its way to Venice (FL) after Ms. Warrington visited with a sick relative in Alabama. She was from Osprey (FL). DeLamater was from Gulfport (FL).

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. A company contracted by the NTSB removed the wreckage Friday.

The FAA Preliminary Report

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 441W        Make/Model: C441      Description: 441 Conquest, Conquest 2
  Date: 12/10/2003     Time: 2020

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: VESTAVIA HILLS              State: AL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 24, AND CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES IN A
  WOODED AREA, THE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, THE AIRCRAFT
  WAS DESTROYED, VESTAVIA HILLS, AL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:    1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:           Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: WIND 270 AT 13, VSBY 10 RAIN, OVC 220                                      
                                                                                    
                                                        

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Climb      Operation: General Aviation

  Departed: BIRMINGHAM, AL              Dep Date: 12/10/2003   Dep. Time: 2012
  Destination: VENICE, FL               Flt Plan: IFR          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: BHM ATTEMPTED TO COMMUNICATE TO PILOT  8 SW OF BHM
  Last Clearance: CLIMB TO 10,000 TURN LEFT ON COURSE

  FAA FSDO: BIRMINGHAM, AL  (SO09)                Entry date: 12/11/2003

FMI: www.ntsb.gov