Beech 23 accident near Norfolk, Virginia, January 7, 2020
On January 7, 2020 at about 5:18 pm local time, a 1973 Beech 23, registered N24690, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Norfolk, Virginia (Chesapeake Rgnl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a bounced landing, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control during the go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2020 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Virginia · Chesapeake Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 C23, built 1973 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N24690 · no longer on the register · serial M-1435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that he was providing instruction to the private pilot who had recently purchased a share in the airplane. They had been practicing landings and had felt wind gusts on the previous landings. Just before the airplane touched down for the fifth practice landing, a wind gust lifted the left wing, and the airplane was pushed right. The pilot attempted to correct for the gust, but the airplane bounced on all three landing gear and became airborne. The instructor told the pilot to add power and go around. Another wind gust pushed the airplane further right, and the airplane was now "clearly in a loss of control state." The instructor took the controls, but the airplane was already in a full stall with full power and full flaps extended. The airplane impacted ground adjacent to the runway. The pilot stated that, when the airplane touched down, a wind gust pushed the airplane right. The instructor yelled for full power and said, "my airplane." The wind pushed the airplane further right and the airplane impacted a ditch and spun around on the propeller. The left-wing spar fitting sustained substantial damage. The underside of the fuselage aft of the firewall, the propeller, and the nosewheel were also damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (IFR final approach)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (IFR final approach)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 26, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,043 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 983 as pilot in command; 433 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 6, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,583.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 732 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPK Norfolk VA at 3:25 pm
- Destination: CPK Norfolk VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from CPK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 10, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Written Statement - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Written Statements - CFI | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Record of Summary - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.