Beech A36 accident near Norfolk, Virginia, May 24, 2008
On May 24, 2008 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N4605M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Norfolk, Virginia (Chesapeake Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the left main landing gear tire for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2008 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Virginia · Chesapeake Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N4605M · registry record · serial E-1246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight touched down with a "squeak" on landing, and after about 50 feet of ground roll the left tire blew. The aircraft veered off the left side of the runway and struck the concrete base of a runway light, which was about 3-4 inches above the ground, resulting in the left wing rear spar fracture. The left tire was found flat after the accident and did not exhibit excessive wear or a "bullseye" type failure typical of a locked wheel.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,850 hours in all; 237 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 10,348 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,063 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M91 Springfield TN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KCPK Chesapeake VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from KCPK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.