Accident Overview
An airplane collided with a Comcast television tower under foggy conditions, resulting in a nose-dive and explosion upon ground impact. The accident occurred in an area where instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, with fog reducing visibility significantly. No flight plan was filed, and the pilot was not instrument rated.
Witness Accounts
A witness in the vicinity reported seeing the airplane clip the tower, followed by parts falling off. The airplane then crossed the road and descended in front of the witness before nosediving into the ground and exploding. Debris was located in a wooded grass area near the tower.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that one propeller blade displayed leading edge saw tooth nicks and gouges, and was bent and twisted aft approximately 50 degrees. The other propeller blade was bent aft approximately 70 degrees from the hub. Examination of the right wing assembly showed a two-foot wide section of the wing separated into two pieces, found near the base of the tower. The separation area was cut uniformly from the leading edge to the trailing edge and continued through the two-foot wide center section of the aileron.
Weather Conditions
Witnesses stated that visibility in the area was poor due to foggy conditions. Local authorities confirmed very foggy conditions with extremely poor visibility upon arrival. The nearest weather reporting facility, Bulloch County Airport in Statesboro, Georgia, recorded at 1202: winds from 110 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 4 statute miles; overcast ceiling at 600 feet. Temperature was 15 degrees Celsius, dew point 12 degrees Celsius, and altimeter setting 30.07 inches of mercury. A weather depiction chart recorded at 1600Z indicated instrument weather conditions in Sylvania, Georgia, and the surrounding area, with ceilings less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles.