# NTSB MIA83LA025: Beech 65-B80, N1HQ, Missing Acft, Bahamas, November 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 5, 1982, 16:54 local (21:54 UTC)
- Place: Missing Acft, Bahamas
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69214
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA83LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69214/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83LA025

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLT DEPARTED FT. LAUDERDALE AT 1626, & AT 1654 IN THE VICINITY OF BIMINI WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT NASSAU RADIO. THE FLT FAILED TO CONTACT NASSAU & THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FLT. SEARCH EFFORTS PRODUCED NEGATIVE RESULTS. IMC PREVAILED ON THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT. RADAR DEPICTIONS SHOWED THE MOST SEVERE WEATHER TO BE BETWEEN MIAMI, FL & BIMINI. SIGMET 7 ISSUED AT 1455 SHOWED AN AREA OF EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING TO A POINT 100 MI E OF MIAMI WITH TOPS TO 40,000 FT THAT WAS MOVING NE AT 15K. ACFT DAMAGE & INJURIES ARE PRESUMED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1HQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65-B80
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LD-275
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-540 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James Valentine
- Registered owner: L. F. Vanstone, Jr.
- Departed: FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
- Destination: ELEUTHERA ISLAN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,395 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 0 ft unknown

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821105057739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821105057739A), Nov 5, 1982: Beech 65B80, Bahamas, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft missing while on IFR flight from ft lauderdale to eleuthera island, Bahamas.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.