Beech 95-B55 accident near Near Naples, Florida, November 19, 1983
On November 19, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N1826Z, was destroyed in an accident near Near Naples, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- November 19, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Near Naples, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N1826Z · registry record · serial TC2408
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT, ALONG WITH HIS SAFETY PLT, DEPARTED PAGE FIELD AT 1401 TO ACCOMPLISH AIRWORK. 1 MIN LATER THE CREW WAS QUESTIONED BY THE TOWER WHY THEY HAD NOT STARTED A TURN SOUTHBOUND. THE SAFETY PLT RESPONDED 'I JUST PULLED AN ENGINE ONHIM AND HE IS GOING TO START HIS TURN NOW.' THE PLT LATER LATER INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER THE AREA NW OF NAPLES WAS ALRIGHTFOR PRACTICING AIRWORK. SUBSEQUENTLY A WITNESS SAW A LARGE SPLASH IN THE WATER. AFTER ARRIVING IN THE AREA OF THE SPLASH, HE FOUND AN OIL SLICK & PARIS OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RETRIEVED & THE GEAR WAS FOUND IN THE DOWN POSITION. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE WINGS & FUSELAGE.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 227 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1983; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMY Fort Myers FL at 7:01 pm
- Destination: TPA Tampa
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from FMY, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.