Champion S-150 accident near Ft. Eustis, Virginia, March 4, 1984
On March 4, 1984 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Champion S-150, registered N5046N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Eustis, Virginia (Fort Eustis airport). It was a personal 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
- March 4, 1984 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Eustis, Virginia · Fort Eustis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion S-150
- Registration
- N5046N · no longer on the register · serial 1132-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A SMOOTH LANDING USING FULL FLAPS. HE STATED THAT SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING, THE LEFT WING CAME UP AND THE RIGHT WING HIT THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE RT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A CH-46 HELICOPTER HAD DEPARTED THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 1 MIN PRIOR TO THE LANDING. OPERATIONAL STANDARDS WERE ISSUED REQUIRING 3 MINUTES BETWEEN HELICOPTER LIFT-OFF AND FLYING CLUB ACFT LANDINGS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT.
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: 160 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 1983; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A20 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ft. Eustis Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from PHF, 7 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.
Other NTSB records under N5046N 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.