ATC Advised Pilot To Slow For Spacing Just Before Accident

A Cessna 340, N37JB, whose pilot had been told to slow his approach to land crashed shortly after that near Melbourne (FL) International Airport Thursday. Witness to the accident said the plane did appear to slow -- and then nosed-dived to the ground, its engines silent.

All three onboard the Cessna were killed in the accident. Two victims have been identified so far: James F. Devoe, CEO and founder of national used-car retailer J.D. Byrider, and his son-in-law Steele Gudal. The name of the pilot hasn't been released.

Records show the aircraft departed from Craig Field in Jacksonville, FL earlier that morning, according to FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. No flight plan had been filed.

Local authorities said Thursday that just before the accident, the C340 (file photo of type, below right) had been advised by ATC to slow down for spacing.

"They were closing too close on a small aircraft that was in front of him. (The pilot) obviously slowed it down and that was the last contact (air traffic controllers) had with the pilot," Brevard County Sheriff's Department Cmdr. Earle Petty told Florida Today.

Several witnesses said the airplane appeared to glide overhead, before impacting the ground.

"I saw a nose come down, (the pilot) leveled off and he cleared those trees. Then I heard a boom," said witness Linda Dugan. "It was just a mass of orange flames."

The FAA and NTSB are at the scene of the accident.

**   Report created 3/24/2006   Record 1  

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 37JB        Make/Model: C340      Description:
  Date: 03/23/2006     Time: 1557

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

LOCATION
  City: MELBOURNE   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT CRASHED ON APPROACH TO MELBOURNE AIRPORT, MELBOURNE, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   3
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: 12009KT 10SM SCT041 BKN100 23/14 A3010

OTHER DATA

  Departed:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan: VFR          Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: ONE AND ONE HALF MILE FINAL
  Last Clearance: CLEARED TO LAND RUNWAY 9 LEFT

  FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL  (SO15)                   Entry date: 03/24/2006

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov, www.jdbyrider.com