JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the plane crash that killed two people in December, including University of North Florida student Maitland Harvey.
The NTSB report said William Swiggart, 32, and Harvey, 18, were flying in a Hinton RV-4, N77BP, on Dec. 17. They took off from Apopka, Florida, and had intended to land in Tallahassee, Florida. The plane was at an altitude of 2,500 feet above mean sea level and approaching Tallahassee around 7:35 p.m.
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The report said:
Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center (JZX) was providing VFR flight following services to the pilot. The JZX controller informed the pilot that there was moderate precipitation in the area, and the pilot informed JZX that he would deviate 'a little to the north.'
About 45 seconds later, the pilot informed JZX that he would be diverting to Thomasville (Georgia) Regional Airport (TVI) for 'better weather.' Following a handoff to TLH approach control, the pilot reported that he was declaring an emergency. He advised the controller that he was in IFR conditions and was not capable of IFR flight. The report said the radar and radio contact was lost with the aircraft at 7:38 p.m.
According to the report, damage to the wings and foliage at the accident site were indicative of a "near vertical, nose-low attitude at impact."
The report said Swiggart held an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane multi-engine land, airplane single engine land and instrument airplane ratings. According to personnel with the U.S. Navy, he was a naval aviator and flight instructor. It was also reported that he had recently obtained an FAA flight instructor certificate. According to a pilot logbook recovered at the scene, Swiggart had logged about 220 hours of civilian flight time.
The report said Harvey was planning on receiving flight instruction from the pilot during her holiday break from UNF. Harvey had obtained an FAA student pilot certificate on Dec. 4. A pilot logbook was found with her personal belongings and revealed no logged flight time.
The report can be viewed in its entirety on the NTSB website.