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

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, Kentucky. 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 & 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 the Kentucky State Medical Examiners Office in Louisville, Kentucky for 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. 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 Chapel, Hardinsburg,  Interment in the Brickey family cemetery at Rt. 3, Hardinsburg.