Beech A36 accident near Roanoke, Virginia, August 12, 1985
On August 12, 1985 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N141BC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia (Woodrum Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1985 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Virginia · Woodrum Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N141BC · registry record · serial E-1815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD BOARDED TWO PAX AND STARTED THE ENG. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TAXI HE REALIZED HE STILL HAD A CHOCKED GEAR. LEAVING THE ENG RUNNING HE GOT OUT AND FOUND THE NOSE GEAR CHOCKED. WHEN HE REMOVED THE CHOCK, THE ACFT WHICH WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. WHILE THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REBOARD, THE ENG WENT TO FULL POWER. THE ACFT ROLLED SEVERAL HUNDRED FT AND THEN STRUCK A SOD BANK, A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND BURST INTO FLAMES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 407 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 307 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 7A4 Richlands VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:50 pm from ROA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.