- Date
- September 30, 1987, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Manteo, NC
- Injuries
- 5 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft
- N6343XBeech 95-B55
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 27, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870930058629A
- Case key
- 7322
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witness observed acft settle into ocean during low level cruise flt adjacent to beach. Wx was ovrcst, indistinct horizon & calm sea. IFR flt plan had been filed but no contact was made with ATC. Engines and propeller examination did not reveal a mechanical failure. Damage to prop blades indicated cruise operating range at impact. Water and salt corrosion damage prevented detailed acft system exams.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6343X
- Reported as
- Beech 95-B55
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TC-2445
- Airframe hours
- 1,295
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-L, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Emory E. James, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 11, 1987
- Departed
- MQI · Manteo, NC
- Destination
- RDU · Raleigh, NC
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,310 total · 2,152 as pilot in command · 196 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MQI, 12 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.