Update 1/12/2009 3:40 PM
The FAA has released audio tapes from the control tower.
Click Here to listen to the audio
Update 11/24/2009 11:27 AM
The National Transportation Safety Board says the pilot of a plane - that crashed short of the runway at GSP International Airport - indicated he was low on fuel, but did not declare an emergency.
The preliminary report says there was less than half a gallon of fuel in the Raytheon Aircraft Company B200 tanks after it crashed about a tenth of a mile short of the runway, went across Highway 14 and came to a stop on elevated terrain on November 9.
Three people were injured during the November 9 flight that was part of a maintenance check. The pilot and two maintenance workers were injured in the crash.
Pilot Mado MacDonald is still in hospital in good condition at Greenville Hospital System Tuesday.
Two mechanics - who performed the engine run prior to the accident flight - said the auxiliary fuel tanks were empty, but the main tanks each indicated approximately 200 pounds of fuel.
The report says the flight lasted about 20 minutes. While airborne, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector says air traffic control personnel instructed the pilot to reduce speed, as the airplane was overtaking a Beech Bonanza on final approach to GSP.
That's when the pilot reported he was low on fuel, but didn't declare an emergency.
A witness reported that the airplane flew over his place of business - located just over two miles from GSP - prior to the accident. He said the right propeller was "feathered" and the propeller was turning slowly enough to see the individual blades during the final approach.
The weather conditions on the morning of the crash included clear skies, surface winds of four knots and 10 miles of visibility.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement