# NTSB IAD78IA036: Beech TC45J, N231LJ, Norfolk, VA, January 25, 1978

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 25, 1978
- Place: Norfolk, VA · NORFOLK, VA
- Location: 36.8468° N, 76.2852° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Norfolk, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8468&lon=-76.2852&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142851
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78IA036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78IA036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0002  78/1/25    NORFOLK,VA          BEECH TC45J         CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27,
        TIME - 1213                    N231LJ              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NORFOLK INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          YPSILANTI,MI                NORFOLK,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           BIRD STRIKE                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - BIRD COLLISION
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: BIRD INGESTION
        REMARKS- BIRDS PRESUMED TO BE SEAGULLS.DMG TO WING LEADING EDGES,R GR DOOR,#2 ENG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231LJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231LJ), registered now, S/N 23835, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH TC45J
- Registry model: [Beech TC-45J](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-tc-45j) (registry code 1151022) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Norfolk Intl

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19780125004929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780125004929I), Jan 25, 1978: Beech TC45J, Norfolk, VA, Minor damage. While on circling approach struck flock of birds. Power lost, engine shutdown.

## Other investigations on N231LJ (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI94LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA198), Jun 13, 1994: Beech 18 (N231LJ), Belleville, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the fuel line on the unique STC'd engine installation. A related factor is the improper installation of a fuel line by company maintenance personnel.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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