Two Floridians Killed

Witnesses say they knew something was wrong as soon as the Piper PA-700 broke ground Monday afternoon. As it struggled for altitude over the runway at Charleston Executive Airport on Johns Island (SC), it began belching smoke.

The aircraft never cleared the trees. It crashed and exploded not far from the departure end of the runway.

Both Floridians on board the aircraft, Paul Evans, 51, and passenger Amy Goffe, 41, were killed in the accident.

FAA Preliminary Accident Report

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 869CC        Make/Model: AEST      Description: PA-60 AEROSTAR
  Date: 04/05/2004     Time: 1926

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: CHARLESTON                  State: SC   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT CRASHED AFTER DEPARTURE, CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, THE TWO PERSONS ON
  BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, JOHNS ISLAND AIRPORT, CHARLESTON, SC

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:    1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:           Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: UNK                                                                         

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: General Aviation

  Departed: JOHNS ISLAND, SC            Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination: CHARLESTON, SC           Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK

  FAA FSDO: COLUMBIA, SC  (SO13)                  Entry date: 04/06/2004

FMI: www.ntsb.gov