Beech C23 accident near Semora, North Carolina, March 20, 1987
On March 20, 1987 at about 9:58 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N18879, was destroyed in an accident near Semora, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1987 · about 9:58 pm local time
- Place
- Semora, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N18879 · no longer on the register · serial M1957
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 375 hours in all; 18 in the last 90 days; 308 as pilot in command; 1 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DAN Danville VA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from DAN, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.