# NTSB DEN02LA007: Piper PA-28-235, N4447D, Paonia, CO, November 4, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2001, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Paonia, CO - Coordinates: 38.860298, -107.590789 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8603&lon=-107.5908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53730 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53730/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA007 ## Probable cause impact with a deer during initial climb immediately following rotation, resulting in the separation of the left main landing gear assembly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - animal(s) (cause) - landing gear,main gear - separation (cause) ## Analysis The pilot, and his passenger were on a sightseeing flight. While en route, the pilot decided to do a touch-and-go landing at a nearby airport. The pilot stated that he did not see any deer on the runway. However, just after rotation, a deer appeared in his path, and the airplane struck the deer with its left wing, tearing off the left main landing gear assembly. He continued to his final destination, where he landed the airplane, the airplane's left wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane slid off of the north side of the runway. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2001, at approximately 1640 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-235, N4447D, was substantially damaged when it struck a deer during a touch-and-go landing at North Fork Valley Airport, Paonia, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for this personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Gunnison County Airport, Gunnison, Colorado, at approximately 1507. According to the pilot, he departed Gunnison on a sight seeing flight over Blue Mesa Reservoir and Black Canyon National Park, on the way to the final destination in Eagle, Colorado. While en route, the pilot decided to do a touch-and-go landing at North Fork Valley Airport. The pilot stated that he did not see any deer on the runway. However, just after rotation, a deer appeared in his path, and the airplane struck the deer with its left wing, tearing off the left main landing gear assembly. The pilot continued the initial climb and tried to contact someone on the ground to assist him in identifying the damage. He was unable to contact anyone and decided to continue the flight to his destination. Approximately 10 miles west of Eagle County Regional Airport, Eagle, Colorado, he called and advised the tower that he had hit a deer at North Fork Valley, and requested a low pass to have someone check his landing gear. The tower informed him that his left main landing gear was missing. At approximately 1700, he landed the airplane on runway 07, with approximately 6000 feet of runway remaining. The airplane's left wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane slid off of the north side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar at the main landing gear attachment point, the left main landing gear assembly, and left horizontal stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4447D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4447D), registered now, S/N 28-10621 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10621 - Airframe hours: 5303 - Engines: Lycoming O 540 B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Christopher L. Garbe - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2001, 23 hours before - Departed: GUC, Gunnison, CO - Destination: EGE, Eagle, CO - Airport: 7V2, North Fork Valley, runway 05, 4,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 3, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 468 total, 264 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KEGE ## 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 20011104034079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011104034079A), Nov 4, 2001: Piper PA28235, Eagle, CO, No damage. (-23) On November 4, 2001, at approximately 1640 local time, Piper PA-28-235, N4447D, struck a deer during rotation at the north valley airport in paonia,… 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.