# NTSB FTW04CA218: Beech BE-58, N8140R, Groveton, TX, August 20, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 20, 2004, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Groveton, TX - Coordinates: 31.094444, -95.16278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0944&lon=-95.1628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04CA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59953/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA218 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional ground loop to avoid colliding with deer that entered the runway during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the tall grass adjacent to the runway that prevented detection of the deer. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - hidden obstruction(s) - object - animal(s) (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - ravine - Fire, standing ## Analysis The 4,940-hour commercial pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 16 ( 3,500-foot long and 60-foot wide asphalt runway), and did not observe any obstructions on the runway as he crossed over the threshold at an airspeed of approximately 100 knots. When the twin-engine airplane touched down, the pilot spotted three deer on the left side of the runway approximately 200 yards in front of him, and he applied "light right rudder to avoid contact." The deer continued to cross the runway from left to right, directly in front of the airplane's roll-out path, and the pilot applied "heavy left rudder and brake, and light right brake to slow and pull the aircraft to the left." Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, and impacted trees in a small ravine located about 60-feet from the edge of the runway. The pilot also reported the deer were hiding in the 3-foot tall grass located along both sides of the runway. The pilot added that after he exited the airplane he walked approximately 1/4-mile to the main ramp for assistance. Upon returning to the airplane, he observed a small fire that gradually intensified and consumed the airplane. A review of published airport information revealed there was a remark that stated deer were on and in the vicinity of the airport. The pilot stated that the airport was not fenced. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 2004, at 2000 central daylight time, a Beech BE-58 twin-engine airplane, N8140R, was destroyed after colliding with terrain during landing roll-out at the Groveton-Trinity County Airport (33R), near Groveton, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Dry Creek Airport (TS07), near Houston, Texas, at 1830, and was destined for Groveton. The 4,940-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that as he approached 33R from the southwest and entered the traffic pattern for runway 16 (3,500-foot long and 60-foot wide asphalt runway), he did not observe any obstructions on the runway. The pilot then proceeded to fly a left downwind, base and final approach for runway 16, and crossed over the threshold at an airspeed of approximately 100 knots. The pilot reported that as the airplane touched down, he spotted three deer on the left side of the runway approximately 200 yards in front of him, and applied "light right rudder to avoid contact." The deer continued to cross the runway from left to right, directly in front of the airplane's roll-out path. The pilot applied "heavy left rudder and brake, and light right brake to slow and pull the aircraft to the left." Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, and impacted trees in a small ravine about 60-feet from the edge of the runway. The pilot also stated that the 3-foot tall grass located on both sides of the runway offered an ideal hiding place for the deer. The pilot added that after he exited the airplane he walked approximately 1/4-mile to the main ramp for assistance. Upon returning to the airplane, he observed a small fire that gradually intensified and consumed the airplane. Shortly after, the local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A review of published airport information revealed the remark that deer were on and in the vicinity of the un-fenced airport. At 1953, the automated surface observing station (ASOS) at Lufkin Airport (LFK), near Lufkin, Texas, located 23 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, reported wind from 150 degrees at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, and few clouds at 6,000 feet above ground level. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8140R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8140R-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N TH-505, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE-58 - Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TH-505 - Engines: Continental IO-520 reciprocating; Continental IO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Philip Johnstone - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TSO7, Dry Creek, TX - Destination: 33R, Groveton, TX - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 4,940 total, 546 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: llfk ## 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 20040820024019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040820024019A), Aug 20, 2004: Beech 58, Groveton, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On August 20, 2004, at approximately 2000 CDT, a Beechcraft, N8140R, model BE-58 was destroyed during landing roll out at Trinity county airport (33R),… 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.