Flight Details
The flight departed from Columbia, South Carolina, on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan destined for Greer, South Carolina. Weather conditions at the time were visual flight rules (VFR). The pilot did not report any problems to air traffic control prior to the crash, and all radio conversations with the pilot were normal.
Radar and Radio Data
Radar data showed the aircraft climbed to 4,000 feet and leveled off at that altitude for a brief period. The aircraft then began a shallow descent and disappeared from radar. The pilot did not respond to radio calls after the descent began.
Crash and Wreckage
The aircraft crashed into a residential area approximately nine miles from the Columbia airport. The wreckage was distributed over an area about 300 feet in length. Witnesses reported that the aircraft was in a nose-down attitude of about 30 degrees prior to impact.
Investigation Findings
There was no evidence of malfunction of the aircraft flight controls or catastrophic engine failure prior to the crash.
Pilot Information
The pilot had in excess of 2,000 hours of flight time and had previously flown aircraft in the military.