# NTSB ATL00LA053: Piper PA-32RT-200, N9385C, Mt. Pleasant, SC, April 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2000, 21:30 local (Apr 30, 2000, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Mt. Pleasant, SC - Coordinates: 32.820587, -79.860015 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8206&lon=-79.8600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49164 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49164/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA053 ## Probable cause The airplane collision with a deer during a night landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - animal(s) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot arrived at the destination airport and established a traffic pattern for a night landing on runway 17. The pilot completed the before landing check which included turning on the landing light. According to the pilot, the airplane was approximately 2500 feet down the runway on the landing roll when a deer was observed on the runway. As the airplane continued the landing roll-out, the right propeller struck the deer. After the airplane struck the deer, the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2000, at 2130 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-200, N9385C, collided with a deer while landing on runway 17 at the East Cooper Airport in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Kennesaw, Georgia, at 1900. The pilot arrived at the destination airport and established a traffic pattern for a night landing on runway 17. The pilot completed the before landing check which included turning on the landing light. According to the pilot, the airplane was approximately 2500 feet down the runway on the landing roll when a deer was observed on the runway. As the airplane continued the landing roll-out, the right propeller struck the deer. After the airplane struck the deer, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airframe sustained additional structural damage during the subsequent sequence of events. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9385C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9385C), registered now, S/N 32R-7885046 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32RT-200 (PA-32RT-20) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7885046 - Airframe hours: 5785 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Laurice K. Rogerson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 2000, 21 hours before - Departed: RYY, KENNASAW, GA - Destination: 8S5 - Airport: runway 17, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 303 total, 188 in this make and model, 249 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CHS, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000429007279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000429007279A), Apr 29, 2000: Piper PA32RT300, Mt Pleasant, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported during landing roll out approx. half way down the runway at 35 knots the a/c struck a deer. (.4)the pilot arrived at the destination… ## Other investigations on N9385C (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA97LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA243), Sep 13, 1997: Piper PA-32RT-300 (N9385C), Oxford, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: fatigue failure of the No.4 connecting rod in an area where galling had occurred, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing. Related factors were: the pilot's lack of communication… - [NTSB ATL87LA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA202), Jul 3, 1987: Piper PA-32RT-300 (N9385C), Liberty, NC, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.