Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Saturday, June 30, 2001 9:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a touch and go, as the student pilot rotated the airplane for takeoff, a deer struck the airplane's left horizontal stabilizer. The left horizontal stabilizer buckled, and the left elevator was torn-off. The student pilot continued the takeoff and performed an uneventful emergency landing in a field adjacent to the airport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The airplane's encounter with a deer during a touch and go.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/30/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Warrenton
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20186
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383513N
Event Location Longitude 0774240W
Event Location Airport Warrenton-Fauquier
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W66
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 329
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 955 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10597
NTSB Notification Source Dulles FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2001 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dulles

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N25846
NTSB Number NYC01LA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15280815
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 7727
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ronald L. Gatewood
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Warrenton
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 2207
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Warrenton-Fauquier Flight Center
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code W66
Departure City Warrenton
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 850
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2001 9:46AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 4103
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --