Baldwin County Fire Rescue, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency, and Atrium EMS responded to a Cessna 310 plane crash at around 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 off Nelson Road in Milledgeville.
According to Baldwin County Deputy Coroner Tonja Joiner, a Florida man, identified as 78-year-old Robert Dluhos, and his dog were killed in a crash around reported around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The plane was scattered across a 100-yard debris field near Georgia State Route 212. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reached the crash site around 2 p.m. Sunday to conduct its investigation into the cause of the crash.
“I spoke to his daughter, and she said his place of residence was Jacksonville, Florida, but he had recently bought property in Milledgeville,” said Joiner. “His family has been notified of his death and he was sent to the crime lab the morning of Aug. 25. It may be hard to determine the cause of death, but they will look at his heart and what they can for potential problems.”
Multiple witnesses called in reports of an airplane flying at low altitude and the property owner of the crash site also called in to report hearing the crash.
“The preliminary information we have is the plane crashed in a wooded area five miles from Baldwin County Regional Airport,” said Sarah Taylor Sulick, NTSB public affairs specialist. “Once the scene is documented and the aircraft is examined, it will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.”
The investigation will look into flight track data, recordings of any air traffic control communications, aircraft maintenance records, weather forecasts, and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident, the pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience, a 72-hour background check of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safely operate the flight, witness statements, and any available electronic devices or video/ photo footage that could contain relevant information.
“During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident,” said Sulick. “A preliminary report will be available within 30 days.”
Public flight tracking data shows the plane was traveling from South Carolina to the Baldwin County Regional Airport before it disappeared from radar. It flew over Lake Sinclair, making a 90-degree turn southeast before disappearing from radar tracking toward the crash site. Baldwin County Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Bradley Towe told 13WMAZ that further timeline details are being withheld for the NTSB investigators.
According to 13WMAZ, the aircraft did carry an Emergency Locator Transmitter, which helped first responders locate the crash site in the remote wooded area.
The incident is still under investigation. Witnesses to the accident or those who have surveillance video or other information are asked to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.