Pilot's condition upgraded

NTSB begins investigation into GSP crash

by John Boyanoski

Published: Nov. 10, 2009, 10:35 a.m.

One of the three men involved in Monday’s airplane crash at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has been upgraded to fair condition.

Derrick Holliday, a nine-year employee of Stevens Aviation, had been listed in serious, but stable condition, said Sandy Dees, a Greenville Hospital spokeswoman. Ed Wilk, a 12-year Stevens’ employee, remained in fair condition, and Mado MacDonald, the pilot, remained in serious, but stable condition.

The plane was registered to Virginia-based MDTR Holdings, which was set up by several men to solely own the plane, said William Newman, the Richmond, Va., attorney who is registered as the agent.

MDTR has no other holdings, and Newman said he was not at liberty to say who the partners were.

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board has assigned an investigator to look into the crash.

That is the next critical step in deciphering why the 11-seat King B200 crashed.

The plane hit a guardrail, cleared Highway 14, hit another guardrail and then came to rest in a field just short of the Greenville-Spartanburg International runway at 10:11 a.m., said Rosylin Weston, an airport spokeswoman.

A preliminary accident report will be available in 10 business days.

The investigator will not come to the site, but will review wreckage and debris collected by emergency crews Monday.

The plane had flown into Greenville from Norfolk International Sunday night for routine maintenance at the Stevens Aviation facility here, said Neal McGrail, chief operating officer of Stevens Aviation. The plane had been serviced at Stevens’ Ohio facilities last year.

Yesterday morning, the McDonald asked the two Stevens’ employees to fly with him so he could show them things he wanted worked on with the plane, which is standard procedure, McGrail said.

The company, which was once a branch of J.P. Stevens Textiles, services about 15 planes a week at the GSP facility. The company has more than 650 employees at five airports across the county selling, repairing and chartering airplanes for private persons and companies.

Federal records show no history of prior problems or crashes with the fixed-wing, multi-engine turbo-prop built by Raytheon Aircraft Co. in 1998.

The pilot was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital and Wilk and Holliday were driven by ambulance. Wilk was in the back of the plane, and Holliday was in the front at the time of the crash.

Greer Fire Chief Chris Harvey said his station along with Boiling Springs, Pelham Batesville and Tyger River fire departments got the all aid alert for the crash and arrived around 10:11 a.m.

Harvey said his crew helped in the extraction.

GSP was closed for roughly 37 minutes while emergency personnel cleared the scene, Weston said.

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