Beech A23 accident near New Market, Virginia, October 16, 2004
On October 16, 2004 at about 3:30 am local time, a Beech A23, registered N130SV, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Market, Virginia (New Market 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
A collision with a deer during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2004 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- New Market, Virginia · New Market Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N130SV · no longer on the register · serial MB-485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the night takeoff roll, as the pilot was rotating the airplane, the left stabilator struck a deer. A portion of the left stabilator separated, and the pilot continued the takeoff. The pilot then circled the airport and performed an emergency landing on the same runway. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in a grassy area beyond the end of the runway.
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: 205 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8W2 New Market VA at 3:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 am from OKV, 40 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.