Preliminary Report on Habersham Plane Crash Released

The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report into a fatal plane crash earlier this month in Habersham County.

Just before midnight on November 4, a Piper was destroyed when it impacted a wooded area following a loss of control during an approach to the Habersham County Airport.

Three people were killed in the wreck.

According to the NTSB report, preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration shows the pilot was not receiving radar services, nor was he in communication with air traffic control at the time of the accident.

The NTSB says that local residents near the airport reported that they heard an airplane flying overhead and shortly afterwards heard a “whirling” noise followed by a loud crash, after which they came outside to see if they could locate where the noise came from, but were unsuccessful due to the heavy fog and mist in the area. As they searched the area they located the airplane in a ravine and notified the local authorities.

In its report, the NTSB says freshly broken tree branches were observed above the wreckage and the airplane was observed in a nose down position and buried about four feet below the surface of the ground.

NTSB officials say all flight control surfaces were located at the accident site and still attached to the fuselage, while both wings were accordion crushed towards the ground and the tail section of the airplane remained above ground and crushed downward.

Officials go on to say the airplane was removed and repositioned for examination; control continuity was confirmed from the control yoke to the elevators and ailerons. Control continuity was also confirmed from the rudder to the rudder pedals.

According to the NTSB, the cockpit, cabin section and empennage were crushed, along with the instrument panel, instruments, throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat control levers, while the engine remained partially attached to the firewall and the two-blade propeller remained attached to the engine hub.

The NTSB says both propeller blades exhibited chordwise scratching and one propeller blade was s-bent while the other was bent aft.

Officials with the NTSB say the airplane was recovered for further examination.