# NTSB FTW93LA157: Aero Commander 680, N6244D, Marietta, OK, May 17, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1993, 19:34 local (May 17, 1993, 00:34 UTC) - Place: Marietta, OK - Coordinates: 33.930263, -97.119293 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9303&lon=-97.1193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18750 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18750/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA157 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPORT OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT ANIMALS COULD NOT ENTER THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - animal(s) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - other airport/runway maintenance - not performed, airport personnel (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - foreign object damage - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT FLEW A PASS FROM SOUTH TO NORTH UP THE RUNWAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY ENTERED LEFT TRAFFIC TO LAND TO THE NORTH. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOOKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE RUNWAY DURING THE PASS AND DOWNWIND LEG, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AS HE LOWERED THE NOSE, THE PILOT OBSERVED CATTLE ON THE RUNWAY. HE ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING AND SWERVED TO MISS THE ANIMALS, HOWEVER, AS HE RAISED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR OFF THE GROUND, THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK A LARGE CALF, COLLAPSING THE GEAR. THE CALF HUNG UP IN THE GEAR AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND WENT OVER A DROP OFF. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CATTLE HAD ENTERED THE RUNWAY OVER A CATTLE GUARD THAT WAS FILLED WITH ROCKS AND DIRT ## Factual narrative On Sunday, May 16, 1993, at approximately 1934 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 680, N6244D, was substantially damaged when it collided with an animal and subsequently ran off the side of the runway during landing at a private airstrip in Marietta, Oklahoma. The airplane, flown by an ATP rated pilot, was landing after a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Oklahoma City. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and one passenger received minor injuries while the two remaining passengers were not injured. According to the pilot, he was taking his family to dinner at a restaurant located adjacent to the private strip. Upon arrival in the area, he inadvertently overflew the airstrip and his son pointed it out to him. He subsequently turned around and flew parallel up the east side of runway 35. He then turned westbound for about five miles and executed a 180 degree turn. He entered left traffic for runway 35 and executed what he said was a normal downwind, base and final. He stated that he checked the runway for obstructions, both during the pass up the runway and during the downwind leg. He noted two aircraft parked on the west side of the south end of the runway and saw no other obstructions. The pilot further stated that the final approach and touchdown were normal and that when he lowered the nose, he saw there were cattle on the runway. He attempted to abort the landing and swerved to avoid the animals. However, as he raised the nose gear back off the runway, the airplane nose and nose gear struck a large calf. The calf hung up in the nose landing gear and the pilot decided to stay on the ground. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway due to the damage to the nose gear. The pilot's efforts to maintain directional control with rudder and asymmetrical power were not successful. Investigation revealed that a road crossed runway 35 about one third of the way up from the south end. The road had cattle guards on both sides of the runway, however, the guards had become filled with rocks and dirt, allowing the cattle to cross. The airport owner, who owned the cattle, stated that he was not aware that they could get on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6244D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6244D-1998-08-25), registration cancelled 1998-08-25, S/N 512182 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 680 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 680](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680) (registry code 0141602) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 512-182 - Airframe hours: 4522 - Engines: LYCOMING GSO-480-B1A6 340 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: 44 Delta Corporation - Registered owner: 44 Delta Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1993, 115 hours before - Departed: 2DT, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Airport: T40, Mcgehee'S, runway 35, 2,450 × 55 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,953 total, 234 in this make and model, 1,794 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 45° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19930516013769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930516013769A), May 16, 1993: Gulstm 680, Marietta, OK, Substantial damage. Struck a large calf on runway during landing roll. Slid over embankment cattle guard on crossing road filled in. 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.