# NTSB ERA14CA214: Beech A36, N6330K, Hazlehurst, GA, April 28, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2014, 21:30 local (Apr 28, 2014, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Hazlehurst, GA - Coordinates: 31.859771, -82.589981 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8598&lon=-82.5900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 89143 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89143/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89143 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA214 ## Probable cause An inadvertent collision with wildlife while landing. ## 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 operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot approached his home airport on a long, straight-in, visual approach to land on a clear night with no wind. As the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, the pilot detected a "flash of brown" from his left and felt 3 rapid and distinct impacts before lowering the nose landing gear to the runway, which subsequently collapsed. The three occupants of the airplane egressed uninjured, and noted that the airplane had been substantially damaged. Several fatally injured deer were subsequently found on the runway. As a result of this investigation, the state department of transportation accelerated the planning and funding of a wildlife mitigation fence around the airport. ## Factual narrative The pilot approached his home airport on a long, straight-in, visual approach to land on a clear night with no wind. As the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, the pilot detected a "flash of brown" from his left and felt 3 rapid and distinct impacts before lowering the nose landing gear to the runway, which subsequently collapsed. The three occupants of the airplane egressed uninjured, and noted that the airplane had been substantially damaged. Several fatally injured deer were subsequently found on the runway. As a result of this investigation, the state department of transportation accelerated the planning and funding of a wildlife mitigation fence around the airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6330K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6330K), registered now, S/N E-2030, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2030 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 6863 - Engines: Continental IO550B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ztj Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Ztj Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2014 - Departed: PBI, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: AZE, Hazlehurst, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AZE, Hazlehurst, runway 32, 4,511 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,818 total, 1,257 in this make and model, 3,741 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: AZE ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89143. 1.4 MB in all. - Photo 1 – View of Wreckage as Found (item 1, .PDF, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419526&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20as%20Found-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – View of Nose Gear Trunnion (item 2, .PDF, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Nose%20Gear%20Trunnion-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – View of Left of Left Landing Gear Door (item 3, .PDF, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419528&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Left%20of%20Left%20Landing%20Gear%20Door-Master.PDF - Photo 4 – View of Left Wing Flap (item 4, .PDF, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Left%20Wing%20Flap-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.