Cessna C-150 accident near Parkersburg, West Virginia, October 3, 1983
On October 3, 1983 at about 2:10 am local time, a Cessna C-150, registered N63666, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parkersburg, West Virginia (Parkersburg airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- October 3, 1983 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Parkersburg, West Virginia · Parkersburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-150
- Registration
- N63666 · no longer on the register · serial 15077467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DEER DURING CLIMBOUT ON A NIGHT TRAINING MISSION. THE WEATHER WAS VMC BUT THE NIGHT WAS DARK. THE CFI SAID THEY WERE DOING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. AFTER COMPLETING A LANDING AND DURING CLIMBOUT THE ACFT STRUCK A DEER. THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED IN THE EMPENNAGE AREA. THE ACFT WAS LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 3,070 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 138 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Parkersburg WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,400 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 am from PKB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N63666 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.