# NTSB CHI08CA178: Mooney M20K, N252EM, Howell, MI, July 6, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2008, 20:30 local (Jul 6, 2008, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Howell, MI
- Coordinates: 42.629444, -83.982223
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6294&lon=-83.9822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Detroit FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68640
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68640/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA178

## Probable cause

The collision with a deer during the takeoff roll.  Contributing to the accident was the dusk light condition.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Light condition: low light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane impacted a deer during the takeoff roll at dusk.  The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff and returned to the ramp area.  The left wing, lower fuselage, propeller, and left main landing gear were damaged.

## Factual narrative

The airplane impacted a deer during takeoff roll at dusk.  The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff and returned to the ramp area.  The left wing, lower fuselage, propeller, and left main landing gear were damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N252EM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N252EM), registered now, S/N 25-1027, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-1027
- Airframe hours: 2125
- Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO-360-MB2 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Baetcke Lake, PC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2007
- Departed: OZW, Howell, MI
- Destination: OZW, Howell, MI
- Airport: OZW, Livingston County Airport, runway 13, 5,002 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,882 total, 955 in this make and model, 1,743 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: OZW

## 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 20080705841839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080705841839A), Jul 5, 2008: Mooney M20K, Howell, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was departing runway 13 at kozw, at approximately 60 knots a male whitetail deer ran into path of aircraft and was struck with prop and left…

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.

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