Beech F-33A accident near Forked River, New Jersey, November 1, 1987
On November 1, 1987 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech F-33A, registered N333JL, was destroyed in an accident near Forked River, New Jersey. It was a personal 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 1, 1987 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Forked River, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F-33A · all F-33As on the register
- Registration
- N333JL · no longer on the register · serial CE-633
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK ON A VFR FLIGHT TO KILL DEVIL HILLS, NORTH CAROLINA. SEARCH EFFORTS WERE INITIATED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION. A WITNESS IN A HUNTING CAMP NEAR THE CRASHSITE SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN A STEEP DESCENT AND HEARD IT IMPACT THE GROUND. CIVIL AIR PATROL PERSONNEL LOCATED THE WRECKAGEON NOVEMBER 5. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A HIGH VELOCITY IN A 45 TO 60 DEGREE DESCENT. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S STRUCTURE, FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM OR POWERPLANT WAS FOUND. THE PILOT HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR GALLBLADDER SURGERY IN SEPTEMBER 1987 AND WAS TAKING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION TO REDUCE ACID PRODUCED BY THE STOMACH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT INCAPACITATION COULD BE FOUND.
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: 1,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1986; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPN White Plains NY at 4:16 pm
- Destination: FFA Kill Devil Hill NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.