October 18, Beaufort, N.C. / Beech Musketeer

At 1705 eastern time, a Beech A23-34 was damaged substantially after running off the end of runway 14 and colliding with a ditch at Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Witnesses observed the airplane touching down in the last half of the 4,000-foot runway. One witness estimated that the airplane touched down 100 yards from the departure end of the runway. The airplane porpoised before exiting the runway into a ditch. Post-crash inspection showed crush damage to the nose and right wing, displacement of the right wing and nose gear, and propeller damage.