- Date
- June 22, 2015, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Grosse Ile, MI
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N640BAGates Learjet 35A
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150622008699A
- Case key
- 91512
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 airplane's collision with a deer on the unfenced runway during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident is the airport's failure to establish a continuous fence between the runway and the nature conservancy.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, while accelerating through 130 knots, a "faint bump" was felt. The flight crew continued the takeoff and experienced difficulty controlling the airplane, but were able to stabilize the airplane in flight. The flight crew reported that there were no annunciations or warnings on the flight deck, but they were able to identify damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The flight crew diverted to an alternate airport and landed without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Following the accident, a deer was found on the runway at the departure airport. The departure airport perimeter is partially fenced and co-exists on an island with a nature conservancy. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation prior to hitting the deer.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, while accelerating through 130 knots, a "faint bump" was felt. The flight crew continued the takeoff and experienced difficulty controlling the airplane, but were able to stabilize the airplane in flight. The flight crew reported that there were no annunciations or warnings on the flight deck, but they were able to identify damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The flight crew diverted to an alternate airport and landed without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Following the accident, a deer was found on the runway at the departure airport. The departure airport perimeter is partially fenced and co-exists on an island with a nature conservancy. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation prior to hitting the deer.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N640BA
- Reported as
- Gates Learjet 35A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 664
- Built
- 1991
- Airframe hours
- 6,000
- Engines
- Honeywell/Garrett TFE-731-2-2B, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fanHoneywell/Garrett TFE-731-2-2B, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Operator
- Beta Aire Ltd
- Registered owner
- Beta Aire Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- ONZ · Grosse Ile, MI
- Destination
- MDW · Chicago, IL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ONZ · Grosse Ile Muni, runway 22, 4,846 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 20, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 15,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 20,000 total · 0 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- KONZ
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.