Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Semora, North Carolina 27305
Friday, March 20, 1987 16:58 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CONDUCTING A LOCAL AIRCRAFT CHECKOUT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW PRIOR TO PULLING UP TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH A UTILITY LINE CROSSING THE INTENDED FLT PATH. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO AN OPEN FIELD IN A NOSE LOW VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. THE INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY AIRCRAFT PROBLEM PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOTS WERE CERTIFICATED AND CURRENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING FAR'S. THE EXACT MANEUVER IN WHICH THE FLIGHT WAS PERFORMING WAS NOT DETERMINED. HOWEVER, THE IMPACT PATTERN WAS INDICATIVE OF A STALL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/20/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1658
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SEMORA
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27305
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1548 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID DAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 572
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 481
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 20 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33609
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N18879
NTSB Number ATL87FA088
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model C23
Aircraft Series Identifier C23
Aircraft Serial Number M1957
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 8 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2240
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DELBERT RHODES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 181 MILLERTON RD
Aircraft Owner City DANVILLE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24540
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DELBERT RHODES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 181 MILLERTON RD
Operator City DANVILLE
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 24540
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DAN
Departure City DANVILLE
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --