Cessna 140 accident near Chesapeake, Virginia, May 6, 1985
On May 6, 1985 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2034V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chesapeake, Virginia (South Norfolk 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
- May 6, 1985 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chesapeake, Virginia · South Norfolk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2034V · no longer on the register · serial 14247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS MAKING A TAKEOFF FROM RWY 20 WITH AN ESTIMATED 10 KT RIGHT X-WIND. AFTER ABOUT 800 FT OF GROUND RUN, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AT APRX 65 MPH. AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 30 FT, THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE IN A LEFT DRIFT AS IT FLEW ABEAM TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. AT THIS POINT, THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT, BUT COULD NOT ARREST THE DRIFT OR SINK RATE. HE ELECTED TO TURN LEFT INTO A FIELD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY TO AVOID TREES & A DITCH. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN THE FIELD & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE ACFT THEN GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT & CAME TO REST INVERTED AFTER SKIDDING ABOUT 50 FT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 812 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 676 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 1984; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W33 at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,575 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from PHF, 25 miles away
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.
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.