December 10, 2012, Lake Park, Ga. - Diamond Aircraft Ind. Inc. DA40

At approximately 1950 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain after a loss of control during climb. The non-instrument-rated private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed. At 1939, ATC cleared the pilot to take off from a nearby towered airport. Subsequently, he contacted a different ATC facility to request VFR flight-following services and was advised to squawk a beacon code of “5576” but, at 1950, before the airplane was radar identified, the pilot radioed, “I’m in trouble.”

Editorial Staff

Friday, January 18, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A non-instrument-rated private pilot was fatally injured when his airplane crashed after a loss of control during climb, under prevailing instrument conditions.
The pilot had requested VFR flight-following services but lost radar and radio contact after stating, "I'm in trouble," before the airplane could be radar identified.
The wreckage was discovered the next day seven miles from the departure airport, showing a significant nose-down impact.

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At 1939, ATC cleared the pilot to take off from a nearby towered airport. Subsequently, he contacted a different ATC facility to request VFR flight-following services and was advised to squawk a beacon code of “5576” but, at 1950, before the airplane was radar identified, the pilot radioed, “I’m in trouble.”