Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Lakeport, California, July 12, 2024
On July 12, 2024 at about 3:35 am local time, a 1975 Piper PA-28R-200, registered N4443X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lakeport, California (Sacramento Intl 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 takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2024 · about 3:35 am local time
- Place
- Lakeport, California · Sacramento Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200, built 1975 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N4443X · registry record · serial 28R-7635044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a nighttime takeoff, the airplane struck a deer on the runway, which severed the left main landing gear. Subsequently, the left main landing gear impacted the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot continued the takeoff, declared an emergency, and flew to a suitable airport before they landed uneventfully.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 421 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 421 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,545 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 7,884 hours total
- Operator: Mach 5 Aviation, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 1O2 Lampson CA at 3:00 am
- Destination: Auburn CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17R/, 8,598 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 85°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 21, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.