Greater Cumberland

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an approach to landing at the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Greater Cumberland Regional Airport (CBE), Cumberland, Maryland. According to the pilot, he was following radar vectors for the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to runway 36 at MYR. He turned for final approach and was inside the outer marker, when he encountered heavy turbulence. As he continued the approach, he described what he believed to be a microburst and the airplane started to descend rapidly. The pilot added full power in an attempt to climb, but the airplane continued to descend until it collided with the Atlantic Ocean 1 mile from the approach end of runway 36. A review of pictures of the wreckage provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the cockpit section of the airplane was broken away from the fuselage during the impact sequence. At 1456, the weather recorded at MYR, included broken clouds at 6,000 ft, few clouds at 3,500 ft and wind from 010° at 8 knots. The temperature was 14°C, and the dew point was 9°C. The altimeter setting was 30.27 inches of mercury. The airplane was retained for further examination.

The pilot was cleared for an approach to the airport. He received airport advisories from the airport unicom operator and asked that the runway lights be turned up. Soon afterwards, the airplane was seen approaching runway 23, which was served by a localizer approach. A witness at the airport said he saw the plane flying in and out of low hanging clouds. He said the airplane appeared to be at level flight, about 400 to 500 feet agl, then it passed over the airport and went in a steep left turn. After about 90° of turn, the airplane began a shallow descent. It rolled out of the turn before it descended into the ground about 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 28. The witness said he heard engine sounds throughout the descent. An examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. A post-mortem examination did not reveal evidence of impairment or incapacitation of the pilot. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.