What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On November 2, 2003, at approximately 1115 eastern standard time, a Fleet biplane, 16B, N80656, registered to a corporation impacted the water approximately 1 mile south of elizabeth field airport (K0B8), Fishers Island, new york. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the certified private pilot and his passenger are missing and presumed fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that departed the westerly state airport (kwst), westerly, rhode Island, about 1100. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to information received from a witness the plane was flying at 500 feet and conducting stunt flying with two other airplanes south of Fishers Island.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON NOVEMBER 2, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1115 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A FLEET BIPLANE, 16B, N80656, REGISTERED TO A CORPORATION IMPACTED THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH OF ELIZABETH FIELD AIRPORT (K0B8), FISHERS ISLAND, NEW YORK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE CERTIFIED PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER ARE MISSING AND PRESUMED FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT THAT DEPARTED THE WESTERLY STATE AIRPORT (KWST), WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, ABOUT 1100. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM A WITNESS THE PLANE WAS FLYING AT 500 FEET AND CONDUCTING STUNT FLYING WITH TWO OTHER AIRPLANES SOUTH OF FISHERS ISLAND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.