# NTSB ERA11CA027: Piper PA28, N9247V, Titusville, FL, October 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 18, 2010, 20:47 local (Oct 19, 2010, 00:47 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.508888, -80.792778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5089&lon=-80.7928&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 March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77627 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77627/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77627 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA027 ## Probable cause An inadvertent collision with a deer during a night takeoff. ## 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to perform a night cross-country. After completing a full stop landing at the destination airport, they taxied back to the runway to complete additional practice of flying in the traffic pattern. While on the takeoff roll, as the student pilot began to rotate the airplane airborne, the CFI observed an animal directly in front of the airplane on the centerline. He took authority of the flight controls in an attempt to not collide with animal as the airplane began the initial climb. He heard a "bang" as the airplane passed over what was later identified as a deer. The CFI then noticed the left rudder pedal was looser than normal and no brake pressure was observed in the left toe brake. After a few low passes and confirmation from the control tower personnel that the left landing gear was not in the normal position, the CFI decided to land the airplane. During landing rollout, the left wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left landing gear had separated, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar. According to the CFI, no mechanical anomalies were present prior to hitting the deer. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, the flight departed for a night cross-country to the destination airport with a student pilot in the left seat and a student pilot in the rear seat. After completing a full stop landing at the destination airport, they taxied back to the runway to complete additional pattern work. As the student pilot began to rotate the airplane during takeoff roll, the flight instructor "saw an animal directly in front of the airplane on the centerline" and grabbed the flight controls in an effort to "miss the animal." He heard a "bang" as the airplane passed over what was later identified as a deer. The flight instructor stated that he then noticed the left rudder pedal was "looser" than normal and no brake pressure was observed in the left toe brake. After a few low passes and confirmation from the control tower that the left landing gear was not in the "normal position," the flight instructor decided to land the airplane. During landing rollout, the left wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left landing gear had separated, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar. According to the flight instructor, no mechanical anomalies were present prior to hitting the deer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9247V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9247V-2019-09-16), registration cancelled 2019-09-16, S/N 2841255, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841255 - Airframe hours: 11654 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flightsafety International - Registered owner: Flightsafety International - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: AAIP, October 14, 2010 - Departed: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Destination: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TIX, Space Coast Regional Airport, runway 36, 7,319 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 669 total, 523 in this make and model, 555 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 57 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TIX ## 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 20101018051229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101018051229A), Oct 18, 2010: Piper PA-28-161, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. During a night instruction cross country flight from (vrb) to (tix) made a full stop landing in Titusville, requesting continued pattern work at the airport.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77627. 639 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338430&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record-Interview with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record-Interview%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338431&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338432&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 5, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 6, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338279&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF 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.