- Date
- February 15, 2017, 11:42 local (16:42 UTC)
- Place
- Charlotte, NC
- Injuries
- 48 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N709PSBombardier CL 600 2C10
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 8, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA report
- 20170215005879I
- Case key
- 94720
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
collision with a deer during takeoff.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
On February 15, 2017, at about 1142 eastern standard time, a PSA Airlines flight 5320, a Bombardier CRJ700, N709PS, struck a deer during takeoff from runway 36C at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. The airplane sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries to the 48 passengers and crew onboard. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from CLT to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT), Gulfport, Mississippi. According to the operator, the airplane struck a deer with its right wing during the takeoff roll. The crew continued the takeoff and declared an emergency. Before returning to land, the flight crew conducted a low pass down runway 36R, for the airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) to inspect the damage. ARFF observed damage to the right wing and reported vapor coming from it. After landing on runway 36R, the flight crew elected to stop on the taxiway due to the fuel leak, where passengers were evacuated and bused them to the terminal. Post flight examination of the wing found damage substantial damage to the leading edge slats, slat tracks, flaps, and front spar of the right wing.
Factual narrative
On February 15, 2017, at about 1142 eastern standard time, a PSA Airlines flight 5320, a Bombardier CRJ700, N709PS, struck a deer during takeoff from runway 36C at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. The airplane sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries to the 48 passengers and crew onboard. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from CLT to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT), Gulfport, Mississippi. According to the operator, the airplane struck a deer with its right wing during the takeoff roll. The crew continued the takeoff and declared an emergency. Before returning to land, the flight crew conducted a low pass down runway 36R, for the airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) to inspect the damage. ARFF observed damage to the right wing and reported vapor coming from it. After landing on runway 36R, the flight crew elected to stop on the taxiway due to the fuel leak, where passengers were evacuated and bused them to the terminal. Post flight examination of the wing found damage substantial damage to the leading edge slats, slat tracks, flaps, and front spar of the right wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N709PS
- Reported as
- Bombardier CL 600 2C10 (700C)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10165
- Built
- 2004
- Engines
- General Electric GE CF34-8C5B1, 13,790 lbs thrust, turbo fanGeneral Electric GE CF34-8C5B1, 13,790 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- PSA Airlines, doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner
- Aerocentury Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- CLT · Charlotte, NC
- Destination
- GPT · Gulfport, MS
- Airport
- CLT · Charlotte/Douglas Intl, runway 36C, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown
- Last flight review
- March 20, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 152 in the last 90 days · 61 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Last flight review
- May 25, 2016
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 204 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.57 inHg
- Observed at
- KCLT
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 484 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N709PS · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.