Cessna 152 accident near Gallipolis, Ohio, July 24, 2001
On July 24, 2001 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48228, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallipolis, Ohio (Gallis-Meigs Regional 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
collision with a deer during take-off roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2001 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Gallipolis, Ohio · Gallis-Meigs Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48228 · registry record · serial 15283304
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the take-off roll on a 3,998 foot long lighted runway at night, a deer struck the right side of the airplane. The airplane began to swerve and the flight instructor was able to stop the airplane on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the tailcone was distorted, and the right horizontal stabilzer and dorsal fin sustained impact damage. The flight instructor stated that they did not see a deer prior to the impact. Patches of deer fur were found on the elevator, but a deer was never located.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 484 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 11, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GAS Gallipolis OH at 1:45 am
- Destination: GAS Gallipolis OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,998 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from HTS, 34 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.