Day/date: April 15, 1988


                              RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                                 FIELD INCIDENT REPORT

Incident type: Aircraft Accident with Fatalities
Log number: 88-57
Date/time of incident: 4/8, noon     Date/time received: 4/15, 11 am
Park: Blue Ridge Parkway  Location: South of Blowing Rock, N.C.
Reported by: Steve Smith, SERO
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO

Summary:
N.L.M. and G.R.S. were en route from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to
Indianapolis, Indiana, in G.R.S.'s two-seat Downer Bellanca when they
encountered dense rain and fog. A park neighbor heard their plane crash and
notified the Watauga County sheriff's office, which in turn notified local
fire and rescue departments. They found that the pilot of the plane (it's
not clear whether G.R.S. or N.L.M. was flying the Bellanca) had flown it
straight into the mountain, that they'd both been killed and that the plane
had burned. Both bodies were removed from the crash site the same day. The
FAA is investigating.

Persons involved:
Name                                 Address             DOB or age
G.R.S.                         Indianapolis, Indiana       8/1/28
N.L.M.                         Indianapolis, Indiana       1/7/42