Atlanta Air Service

Piper PA-42 Cheyenne

The aircraft collided with a tree and a pole short of the runway during a night VFR approach to land. The pilot changed from runway 18 to 36 during the approach. He was seen low and fast on downwind which ended in a steep descending turn to ground contact. The tower had overied the pilot during the initial approach because of his speed and high altitude. The pilot replied that he would be down and requested a change of runway. The wind was reported as from 150° at 7 knots. Both occupants were killed.