ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News has obtained audio recordings of a pilot's conversation with a control tower just before his plane crashed into Interstate 285 last May, killing all four people aboard.
The recording reveals a fairly calm Greg Byrd as he prepares for takeoff from DeKalb Peachtree Airport May 8.
The tower at the airport clears Byrd for takeoff, and a short time later Byrd calls the tower, giving his first indication there is a problem.
"Having some trouble climbing here," Byrd called into the tower.
A short time later, Byrd calls back to the tower to let them know he is going down.
Byrd: "Uh … we're going to be down here in (inaudible)…"
Tower: "Say again?
After a short pause Byrd comes back, saying, “We’re going to be down here in the intersection ...”
That was the last the tower had communication with the plane.
A short time later, other people could be heard calling into the tower to report they could see smoke.
"Did you notice the smoke off the end of runway three right?" someone called into the tower.
"Hold short three left there's smoke off the runway three right," the tower said.
"Clarify that No. 5802 victor crashed on departure?"
"That is correct ... about 1 and a half, 2 miles away from airport."
The plane ended up crashing on Interstate 285, killing pilot Greg Byrd, his sons Phillip and Christopher Byrd and Christopher's fiancée, Jackie Kulzer.
FAA records show the single engine Piper airplane took off from DeKalb Peachtree Airport just before 10 a.m. May 8.
Records show the plane was headed to Oxford, Mississippi, where family members say they were going to attend the graduation of another one of Greg Byrd's sons at University of Mississippi.
Channel 2 Action News confirmed the flight had originated in Asheville, North Carolina, where pilot Greg Byrd lived. He flew to the Atlanta area to pick up Christopher and Jackie.
Kulzer was a graduate of St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta.
The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on the crash but a final report has yet to be released.
WSBTV
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