# NTSB ATL97LA007: Piper PA-28R-200, N16413, Olive Branch, MS, October 16, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1996, 21:25 local (Oct 16, 1996, 02:25 UTC)
- Place: Olive Branch, MS
- Coordinates: 34.950172, -89.820495 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9502&lon=-89.8205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3797/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA007

## Probable cause

The farmer's failure to maintain security of his livestock/animals.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - animal(s) (cause)
  - security - not maintained, other person (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that as the takeoff airspeed accelerated to 60 mph, with the landing lights on, he noticed the rear end of a large black bull walking down the center of the runway. During the pilot's attempt to avoid a collision, the right wing struck the bull. Reportedly, the bull came from a pasture adjacent to the airport. In the past, there had been several occurrences of domestic livestock on the airport property from a nearby pasture.

## Factual narrative

On October 15, 1996, at 2125 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N16413, collided with a bull on runway 18 during a takeoff roll at the Olive Branch Airport in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The accident occurred  during the initial takeoff attempt from Olive Branch.

The pilot reported that as the airplane accelerated to 60 mph, with the landing lights on, he noticed the rear end of a large black bull walking down the center of the runway. During the pilot's attempt to avoid a collision, the right wing struck the bull. Despite the collision, the pilot taxied the airplane to the next available taxiway and exited the runway. Reportedly, the bull came from a pasture adjacent to the airport. In the past, there had been several occurrences of domestic livestock on the airport from the same pasture.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16413](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16413-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 28R-7335142, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7335142
- Airframe hours: 4388
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph E. Lutz
- Registered owner: Mark Hicks
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 7, 1996, 22 hours before
- Departed: OLV
- Destination: LIC, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: OLV, Olive Branch, runway 18, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,272 total, 9 in this make and model, 1,956 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MEM

## 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 19961015032359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961015032359A), Oct 15, 1996: Piper PA28R200, Olive Branch, MS, Substantial damage. Collided with bull on takeoff. Bull middle of runway. Right wing hit bull. Aborted. Got control. Turned off runway. (-23) during takeoff roll on runway 18,…

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.