Obituaries

In Memory of
Joseph Bernard Bates
August 15, 1929 - December 10, 1986

Interment:
Brickey Family Cemetery, Hardinsburg, Kentucky

JOE BATES KILLED IN DECEMBER 10 PLANE CRASH Joseph Bernard BATES, a 57 year old resident of Ceredo, West Virginia (Wayne County), formerly of Hardinsburg, was killed on Wednesday, December 10, 1986 when his twin-engine, 6 seat, Beechcraft Baron Airplane crashed into a mountainside near Pikeville,(Ky).

BATES, the only occupant in the plane, had left Tri-State Airport near Huntington, West Virginia, at 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday, bound for Pikeville. The aircraft crashed on a mountainside at the head of Ivy Creek, about 3 miles off U.S. 23, less than 5 miles from Pikeville Airport, officials said.

A passing helicopter reported seeing the downed plane, and state police and Floyd County Emergency and Rescue Squad members discovered the wreckage early Wednesday afternoon.

Investigation continues to determined the cause of the crash, which reportedly occurred during foggy weather, officials stated.

Floyd County Coroner Roger Nelson tentatively identified the victim, and the body was taken to Louisville (Jefferson County, Ky) for an autopsy.

Bates owned Bates Aviation, Inc., was president of Air West Virginia, Inc., a Mason, a U.S. Navy Veteran, and a member of the Hardinsburg Baptist Church. He had been in aviation for the past 30 years, and formerly owned an automobile dealership in Hardinsburg.

Mr. Joseph Bernard Bates was born in Breckinridge County on August 15, 1929, the son of Levi BATES of Rt. 3, Hardinsburg, who survives, and the late Mrs. Thelma Whitworth Bates. Surviving him are his wife, Sharon, two daughters, two sons, one step daughter, one step son, 2 grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Helen O'CONNELL of Louisville, Ky.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 13, 1986 from the Trent- Dowell Funeral Home, Hardinsburg, in charge of arrangements, and burial in the Brickey family cemetery at Rt. 3, Hardinsburg.



Additional Comments: Brickey Cemetery, tombstone pictures I took in August 1989 on a visit to Hardinsburg to do family research on my WHITWORTH surname. I have done my best to reseach and record all WHITWORTH'S in and around Breckinridge County since I started researching in April 1980.

BATES, Levi M. 02 Nov 1901 -- 26 Jun 1989 husband of Thelma "FATHER" Thelma 03 Oct 1904 -- 22 Jul 1954 wife of Levi M. "MOTHER" There is only year dates on their double tombstone. Son of Benjamin H. BATES and Elmina Franklin TAUL Daughter of Nathaniel WHITWORTH and Ruth MACY (see Levi's obituary and Thelma's death certificate, posted on this site)

ALSO HERE ARE THEIR CHILDREN: BATES, C. B. 29 Mar 1925 -- 08 May 1969 husband of Maxie Maxie 31 Jul 1919 -- 26 Mar 2001 wife of C. B. Maxie Ellen KEENAN, the daughter of John Russell KEENAN and Mary Augusta JACKSON. They share a double tombstone. (see C.B. and Maxie's obituaries on this site) BATES, Infant Daughter 1923 Infant son 1938 Children of Levi & Thelma BATES; double tombstone (see their death certificate information also posted on this site) BATES, Willard K. 29 May 1927 -- 23 Jun 1957 He has a single tombstone. (see his death certificate information on this site) BATES, Joseph Bernard 15 Aug 1929 -- 10 Dec 1986 He has a single tombstone. (see his obituary on this site)

Breckinridge County Cemeteries, vol.2, published in 1997: #0186 New Ivy Hill Cemetery, Hardinsburg, Ky O'CONNELL, Charles P. 09 Aug 1926 -- 24 May 1986 Husband of Helen Helen BATES 15 Sep 1931 -- ___________ wife of Charles P. Charles Preston O'CONNELL is the son of Alfred Francis O'CONNELL and Beulah Marie KEENAN. (see Charles's obituary posted on this site) Peggy Russell

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/breckinridge/obits/b/bates8772gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/ Joe Bates
Huntington, WV
Ceredo Kenova, West Virginia
Owner of Air West Virginia Father of Debbie Bates
Died December 10, 1986 in plane crash at Ivel,
Kentucky. Beechcraft Baron N7975M

Born 2 Aug 1928
DIED: Dec 10, 1986


NTSB Identification: MIA87FA047 The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 32435. Accident occurred Wednesday, December 10, 1986 in IVEL, KY

Aircraft: BEECH C-55, registration: N7975M
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

THE PLT WHO WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO MAKE THE CHARTER FLT TO PICK UP THE PAX WAS RELUCTANT TO DO SO DUE TO LOW CEILINGS IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA AT THE DESTINATION. THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY TOOK THE FLT & THE FLT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES NEAR THE DESTINATION TO BE FLYING IN & OUT OF THE CLOUDS BETWEEN & BELOW THE MOUNTAIN TOPS. WITNESSES ESTIMATED THE ALT TO BE BETWEEN 150 & 300 FT AGL. THE DESTINATION ARPT 3 MI FROM THE CRASH SITE WAS COMPLETELY FOGGED IN WITH VISIBILITY UNDER 100 YDS. THE ACFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A CLOUD COVERED MOUNTAIN. THE PLT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY CITED BY FAA FOR VIOLATIONS OF FAR INCLUDING CARELESS & RECKLESS OPERATION OF ACFT.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

OBJECT..TREE(S)
VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC..ATTEMPTED..PILOT IN COMMAND
FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER..INITIATED..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors:
WEATHER CONDITION..CLOUDS
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION..POOR..PILOT IN COMMAND
OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY..PILOT IN COMMAND INSUFFICIENT
STANDARDS/REQUIREMENTS,AIRCRAFT..COMPANY/OPERATOR MGMT
WEATHER CONDITION..FOG
IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION..POOR..PILOT IN COMMAND
SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE..PILOT IN COMMAND




































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