# NTSB FTW96LA087: Piper PA-38-112, N9840T, Port Mansfield, TX, January 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 1996, 10:32 local (16:32 UTC) - Place: Port Mansfield, TX - Coordinates: 26.550132, -97.430305 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5501&lon=-97.4303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19738 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19738/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA087 ## Probable cause Deer running onto the runway as the student pilot was landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the soft terrain that was encountered as the pilot was maneuvering to avoid a collision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - object - animal(s) (cause) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis After the airplane touched down during a landing, deer ran onto the runway. The pilot started to abort the landing (go around); however, he reported that the power 'didn't increase fast enough.' He aborted the go-around, but the airplane encountered soft/sandy terrain beside the runway during the roll-out. Subsequently, the nose gear collapsed resulting in structural damage. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 1996, at 1032 central standard time, a Piper PA-38- 112, N9840T, collided with terrain during an aborted takeoff at the Charles R. Johnson Airport, Port Mansfield, Texas. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was being operated by Flight Training Systems, Inc., dba Southwind, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed for the solo cross country instructional flight. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the operator and pilot reported the following. The flight departed Brownsville, Texas, with en route stops planned for Edinburg, and Port Mansfield, Texas. After touching down on runway 12, deer appeared out of the bushes and ran onto the runway. The pilot reported applying power; however, "the power didn't increase fast enough" and the pilot aborted the takeoff. During the rollout on the grassy area along the side of the runway, the nose gear collapsed in the soft sand and the aileron struck a sand bank. Structural damage was also sustained by the engine firewall and the engine mount. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9840T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9840T-2017-06-01), registration cancelled 2017-06-01, S/N 38-78A0222, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0222 - Airframe hours: 3381 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Training Systems, Inc., doing business as Southwind - Registered owner: Avelease, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 31, 1995, 42 hours before - Departed: T05 - Destination: BRO, BROWNSVILLE, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: T05, Charles R. Johnson, runway 12, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19960109002479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960109002479A), Jan 9, 1996: Piper PA38112, Port Mansfield, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On January 9, 1996, at 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N9840T, collided with terrain during a go-around at the Port Mansfield airport,… 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.