Beech F33A accident near North Salem, New York, November 19, 2015
On November 19, 2015 at about 8:44 pm local time, a 1971 Beech F33A, registered N9318Q, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near North Salem, New York (Danbury Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 2015 · about 8:44 pm local time
- Place
- North Salem, New York · Danbury Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A, built 1971 · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N9318Q · no longer on the register · serial CE-355
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the instrument-rated pilot was cleared for an instrument approach in actual instrument meteorological conditions. About 2 minutes later, the airplane entered a right descending turn away from the airport. The controller attempted to contact the pilot but received no response. The airplane impacted a reservoir about 8 miles from the airport. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. On his most recent application for a medical certificate about 6 months before the accident, the pilot reported a total of 1,940 hours of flight experience, but his logbooks were not recovered, so his recent flight experience and instrument currency could not be determined. The pilot's toxicology results were negative, and the autopsy was inconclusive, so it is unknown if the pilot experienced a medical condition that could have contributed to the loss of airplane control.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,940 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,356.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-550B(4) (piston); 2,356 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PKB Parkersburg WV at 6:25 pm
- Destination: DXR Danbury CT
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DXR, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| 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.