Beech A55 accident near Norfolk, Virginia, August 3, 1993
On August 3, 1993 at about 8:32 pm local time, a Beech A55, registered N30JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norfolk, Virginia (Norfolk International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPESNATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1993 · about 8:32 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Virginia · Norfolk International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A55
- Registration
- N30JM · no longer on the register · serial TC-277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING THE WINDS PROVIDED TO HIM BY THE CONTROL TOWER WERE 'DOWN THE RUNWAY AT SEVENTEEN KNOTS.' HE USED FULL FLAPS DURING THE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 23. HE SAID THAT THE ATIS REPORTED WINDS FROM 270 DEGREES, GUSTING TO 22 KNOTS. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DRIFT LEFT AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE SOFT TERRAIN.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 4,880 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCN Macon GA
- Destination: ORF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from ORF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.