Beech C23 accident near Crestview, Florida, November 4, 1984
On November 4, 1984 at about 6:24 am local time, a Beech C23, registered N9242S, was destroyed in an accident near Crestview, Florida (Bob Sikes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- November 4, 1984 · about 6:24 am local time
- Place
- Crestview, Florida · Bob Sikes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N9242S · no longer on the register · serial M1735
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APCH. THE REPORTED WX AT THAT TIME WAS: 600 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 7 MI, WIND 010 DEG AT 6 KTS. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE APCH, HE FELT A DOWNDRAFT THAT CAUSED THE ACFT TO BANK TO THE LEFT & PITCH DOWN. THE LAST ALT THAT HE RECALLED READING BEFORE THE 'DOWNDRAFT' WAS 750 FT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED. A PASSENGER, WHO WAS OCCUPYING A REAR SEAT, SAID THAT THE ACFT WAS IN THE CLOUDS, THEN CAME OUT INTO THE CLEAR WITH JUST ENOUGH TIME TO SEE THE TREES BEFORE IMPACT. AN INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT. THE 0057 CST WX (APRX 33 MIN AFTER THE ACCIDENT) WAS, IN PART: 100 FT OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 3/4 MI WITH FOG, WIND CALM. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 200 FT MSL. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 215 FT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,407 hours in all; 1,128 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,259 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1984; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 28J Palatka FL
- Destination: CEW
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 800 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 am from CEW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.