Police and firefighter/paramedics from DeKalb County responded about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday October 30 2019 to a report of an aircraft crash into an apartment building just south of I-85 at or near the Hawthorne at Clairmont apartment complex. DeKalb County officially reported on Twitter that DeKalb County’s Public Safety Unified Command personnel (DeKalb Fire Rescue, DeKalb Police, and DeKalb Emergency Management Agency) are on the scene of a plane crash on Peachwood Circle.
DeKalb County officials initially reported one death confirmed by DeKalb County Fire Rescue, but local media sources are reporting two deaths.
The private aircraft — a Piper PA-28 — crashed shortly after takeoff from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the FAA. The cloud ceiling was less than 500 feet at the time of the crash. The crash scene about 1.1 mile southeast of the southeast edge of Runway 16/34 and also about 1.1 mile southeast of the south edge of Runway 3L/21R and Runway 3R/21L.
The Hawthorne at Clairmont apartment complex is a gated community located along the I-85 Frontage Road about 1.5 miles northeast of Clairmont Road (US 23). The apartment building impacted by the crash appears to be a 2-story townhouse apartment building at least 20-30 years old. Much of the Hawthorne at Clairmont apartment complex appears to be newer construction with 4-story apartment buildings.
Local news media are reporting they were told by authorities that the crash is on Oakawana Drive. There is no Oakawana Drive on Google Maps, but there is an Oakawana Road about 3,000 feet south of the Hawthorne at Clairmont apartment. Large single-family homes exist on Oakawana Road in DeKalb County.
Initially there was no information regarding whether there was more than one crash or debris site.
The information in this article is an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police or fire authorities.
DEVELOPING …
JUST IN: First photo from @johnjspink of DeKalb apartment complex where a plane crashed this morning. https://t.co/GIUBiuh13k pic.twitter.com/sgK4PN4GGZ
— AJC (@ajc) October 30, 2019
Media Alert: DKPD are responding to a possible plane crash near I-85 & Clairmont. We'll have more updates as they come. #DKPD
— DeKalb County Police Department (@DeKalbCountyPD) October 30, 2019
Just pulled up to scene of what we’re told is a small plane crash inside the Hawthorne at Clairmont apartment complex in DeKalb County. Scene is behind a gate. Working to get more info. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/mGByDeUJpi
— Aaron Diamant (@AaronDiamantWSB) October 30, 2019
.@AudreyWSBTV just found pieces of the plane about 500 feet away from the crash site. She's gathering more information now. pic.twitter.com/YDgWtio2HW
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) October 30, 2019
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DeKalb County’s Public Safety Unified Command personnel are on the scene of a plane crash on Peachwood Circle.
The Unified Command personnel consists of DeKalb Fire Rescue, DeKalb Police & DeKalb Emergency Management Agency.— DeKalb County, GA (@ItsInDeKalb) October 30, 2019
DeKalb Fire & DeKalb Police are on the scene of a small-engine plane crash into a townhome building on Peachwood Circle. PDK Airport confirmed that 2 people were on the plane that took off @ the airport. DCFR has confirmed one death. There are no confirmed injuries in the complex
— DeKalb County, GA (@ItsInDeKalb) October 30, 2019