Three episodes and the pilot had been shot when Smith was killed on August 25 , 1985 , in the crash of a small plane belonging to Bar Harbor Airlines . Smith 's death occurred prior to the airing of any of the programs , the premiere being on September 21 . Although production continued , her role was never recast . Auditions were held instead for a new character , another daughter to Wagner 's character , but the notion was entirely dropped . The plan had been for Samantha 's character , Elizabeth , to live on off-screen , moving to Paris to be with her divorced mother . The show was subsequently dedicated to Smith 's memory
crash of a small plane
Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808
Lime Street (TV series)