On April 12, 1999, a Piper PA-16 (registration N5796H) was involved in an aviation accident near Hardeeville, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An inflight loss of control for undetermined reasons while in a descent and the subsequent collision with the terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported severe clear air turbulence and requested a lower altitude before making a garbled transmission and disappearing from radar. Wreckage was later found northeast of Savannah.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported encountering 'pretty bad' clear air turbulence at his assigned altitude and requested a lower altitude from the military approach radar controller. The controller instructed the pilot to make a turn due to conflicting traffic. During the turn, the pilot transmitted that the turbulence had become 'severe.' Shortly thereafter, he made a garbled transmission that sounded as if he was saying 'headed down' or 'going down.' The aircraft then disappeared from the radar scope.
Wreckage Discovery
Wreckage was later found having impacted the ground in a tree preserve approximately 13 miles northeast of the Savannah VOR. Investigators examined the airframe and engine but found no evidence of any precrash failure or malfunction in the airplane's engine, airframe, or their components.