Beech E18S accident near Fishersville, Virginia, April 25, 1985
On April 25, 1985 at about 11:43 am local time, a Beech E18S, registered N67A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fishersville, Virginia (Waynesboro airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- April 25, 1985 · about 11:43 am local time
- Place
- Fishersville, Virginia · Waynesboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N67A · no longer on the register · serial BA 217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WEATHER CONDITIONS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, THE INTENDED DESTINATION, RESULTED IN A MISSED APPROACH AND DIVERSION TO SHENANDOAH VALLEY AIRPORT, WHERE TWO MORE MISSED APPROACHES WERE EXECUTED. ON THE CLIMB OUT FROM THE SECOND MISSED APPROACH, THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED AND THE PLT INFORMED WASHINGTON CENTER OF THE SITUATION AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO WAYNESBORO AIRPORT. WHILE ENROUTE TO WAYNESBORO, THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LEVEL FLIGHT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED. THE PLT LANDED IN A FIELD, CONTINUED OVER AN EMBANKMENT, AND CAME TO REST ON VIRGINIA ROUTE 608. INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED LITTLE OR NO FUEL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 362 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIC Richmond VA at 10:45 am
- Destination: CHO Charlottesville VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 125 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 am from CHO, 27 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.
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.