Amateur-built AA-1B accident near Chesapeake, Virginia, March 10, 1983
On March 10, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N6266L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chesapeake, Virginia (Chesapeake Municipal airport). It was a business 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 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
- March 10, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chesapeake, Virginia · Chesapeake Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1B
- Registration
- N6266L · registry record · serial AA1B0066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF ON RWY 4 & MADE A CLIMBING LEFT TURN FOR A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE. AT APRX 900 FT, THERE WAS A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER TO ABOUT IDLE RPM. THE PLT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT & PUMPED THE THROTTLE, ALL TO NO AVAIL. HE TURNED BACK TO THE ARPT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A LANDING ON SOFT TERRAIN, APRX 150 YARDS SHORT OF RWY 22. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE INSIDE SCREEN & SPONGE ELEMENT OF THE AIR INTAKE FILTER, PN BA-4210, HAD COME LOOSE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SCREEN & SPONGE HAD BECOME LODGED IN THE THROAT OF THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX & OBSTRUCTED THE AIRFLOW TO THE CARBURETOR. THE METAL IN THE SCREEN WAS FOUND TO BE NON-MAGNETIC. AD 81-15-03 HAD BEEN ISSUED TO CORRECT THE FILTER PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ALUMINUM SCREEN WITH A STEEL SCREEN.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,723 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1983; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ECG Elizabeth City NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from ORF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.