Advance Aviation BUCCANEER II accident near Townsville, North Carolina, August 23, 1994
On August 23, 1994 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Advance Aviation BUCCANEER II, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Townsville, North Carolina (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1994 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Townsville, North Carolina · None
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Advance Aviation BUCCANEER II BUCCANEER, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP. HE REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A BEE OR WASP FLEW INTO THE COCKPIT, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO CHANGE HIS TAKEOFF PATTERN. HE PULLED THE AIRCRAFT UP, AND LOST AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, AND IMPACTED A TREE. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WITH THE AIRCRAFT LODGED IN THE TREE. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN REVOKED BECAUSE OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT REGISTERED, AND NO MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE LOCATED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from RDU, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.