Piper PA 38-112 accident near Chesapeake, Virginia, August 21, 2006
On August 21, 2006, a Piper PA 38-112, registered N6401A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chesapeake, Virginia (Hampton Roads Executive 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 presence of deer on the runway during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision. A factor in the accident was the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2006
- Place
- Chesapeake, Virginia · Hampton Roads Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 38-112 · all PA 38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N6401A · registry record · serial 38-78A0416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing a landing at night, the pilot of a Piper PA 38-112 saw a deer about 30 feet ahead of the airplane in the center of the runway. He added power, steered to the left, and struck a second deer that was out of his view with the left main landing gear. The left main landing gear then separated, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest off the left side of the runway after striking several runway lights. The pilot stated that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.
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: 67 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,667.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bishop Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KAKQ Wakefield VA at 11:40 pm
- Destination: KPVG Chesapeake VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 3,524 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KNGU, 12 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.