- Date
- March 13, 1995, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fentress, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N76981Cessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950313004769A
- Case key
- 19368
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The sudden movement of an animal into the path of the aircraft during takeoff roll. Factors were the inability of the pilot to establish a visual lookout down the runway due to the runway's 'crowned' midpoint.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff from a private airstrip, the airplane collided with a cow. The pilot had just landed to the north and taxied to the south end of the strip in order to board a passenger. He then proceeded to takeoff to the north. The airstrip is located on a hillside with a pronounced 'crown' at its midpoint inhibiting the pilot's view of the other end.
Factual narrative
On March 13, 1995, at 1730 central standard time, a Cessna 140, N76981, collided with a cow during takeoff from a private airstrip near Fentress, Texas. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the CFR Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that, he had just landed to the north and taxied to the south end of the strip where a passenger boarded the airplane for the short flight to San Marcos, Texas. He further reported that the gravel strip is located on a hillside, with a pronounced crown at the midpoint which inhibits "being able to see the other end of the airstrip."
The pilot reported that during takeoff roll to the north, "a cow ran right out in front" of the airplane." Unable to avoid impact, he decided to "jump the airplane over the cow." The aircraft subsequently struck the animal, veered to the right, and came to rest in soft dirt on the side of the runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N76981
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11427
- Airframe hours
- 2,924
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Smith, Kenneth S. Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 6, 1994 · 20 hours before
- Destination
- T98 · San Marcos, TX
- Airport
- NONE · Private Airstrip, runway 36, 2,000 × 60 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 595 total · 181 in this make and model · 523 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 37 °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.