Casualties unknown

Unidentified Aircraft Found Burned in Woods (N4565P)

Reidsville, GA, US

On February 28, 1985, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N4565P) was involved in an aviation accident near Reidsville, GA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A burned aircraft was discovered by forest service personnel in a wooded area. No individuals or baggage were found, and the cause remains unknown due to lack of registration records.

What happened

Forest service personnel located an aircraft that was on fire within a wooded area. Upon arrival at the scene, investigators determined that no persons or baggage were present. The specific date, time, and circumstances leading to the incident could not be established.

The investigation

An examination of Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that the aircraft was not officially registered at the time of discovery. It is noted that the aircraft had been recently sold; however, the identity of the new owners was unknown, and no record of registration was found for the airframe.

Findings

The primary finding is that the aircraft lacked official registration documentation despite being reported as recently sold. Investigators suspected drug-related activity may have been involved, though this could not be confirmed due to the lack of personnel or evidence at the site.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X35638. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.