Jan. 3, Cordesville, S.C. / Piper Comanche

At 21:30 EST, a Piper PA-24-180 struck trees while trying to make an emergency landing in Cordesville. The pilot and front seat passenger were killed and a rear seat passenger was seriously injured. The flight departed Princeton, N.J., at 16:15. The FBO at the departure airport said the pilot planned a fuel stop in Savannah, Ga. Approximately 5:15 into the flight the pilot radioed Charleston Approach control and requested landing. About two minutes later the pilot reported the airplane had run out of fuel. The approach controller issued the pilot radar vectors to the nearest airport. Seconds later radio and radar contact was lost and an ELT signal was detected by another airplane.