Beech 95-B55 accident near Monroe, North Carolina, February 1, 1997
On February 1, 1997 at about 4:48 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N70F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monroe, North Carolina (Monroe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
pilot incapacitation as result of Ischemic heart disease.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1997 · about 4:48 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · Monroe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N70F · no longer on the register · serial TC-1637
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The passenger said that before the flight the pilot was complaining about 'not feeling well.' During the flight the pilot's condition got worse, he complained about 'tingling in his fingers and pressure on his chest.' Several witnesses saw the airplane on final approach, about 50 to 100 feet above the ground, flying erratically, heading towards buildings and hangers. The pilot became too ill to fly the airplane, and the passenger had taken control of the airplane, and landed without hitting any buildings, but struck a pole with the right wing. An autopsy was performed on the pilot, and according to the Autopsy Report, the pathological diagnoses were: 'Ischemic heart disease (coronary atherosclerosis, focal, severe) and pulmonary congestion with focal hemorrhage.' Cause of death: 'Ischemic heart disease.'
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: 2,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,014 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EQY at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from CLT, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.