# NTSB ERA21LA227: Cessna 550, N803SC, Charleston, SC, May 2, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 1, 2021, 20:39 local (May 2, 2021, 00:39 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, SC · rwy 27
- Coordinates: 32.694848, -80.003008
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6948&lon=-80.0030&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: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103131
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA227
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103131/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103131
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA227

## Probable cause

The airplane's impact with a deer during 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: [Cessna 550, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2076604), [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.

- [Takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airplane collided with two deer just after rotation. He continued the climbout and assessed that the flight controls functioned normally, but that the airplane was having issues with pressurization, and he was unable to communicate via radio. He eventually was able to contact air traffic control via mobile phone to coordinate their arrival at the destination and landed there uneventfully. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it had sustained substantial damage to the right wing and its pressure vessel during the collision with the deer.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N803SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N803SC-2021-08-18), registration cancelled 2021-08-18, S/N 5500615, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 550 (CIT.  II)
- Registry model: [Cessna 550](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-550) (registry code 2076604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-4-series) (registry code 52112, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5500615
- Year built: 1989
- Airframe hours: 6778.4
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-4 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney JY15D-4 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stb Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Stb Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 16, 2021
- Destination: CAE, Columbia, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JZI, Charleston Exec, runway 09/27, 5,350 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,990 total, 772 in this make and model, 2,238 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: JZI
- METAR: KJZI 020035Z AUTO 11004KT 8SM BKN046 BKN050 18/13 A3006 RMK AO2

## 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 20210501007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210501007639A), May 1, 2021: Cessna 550, Johns Island, SC, Substantial damage. Aircraft hit two deer while conducting a normal takeoff.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103131. 6.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12386105&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12386149&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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