# NTSB GAA19CA310: Piper PA23, N6562A, Atlanta, GA, May 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 18, 2019, 07:15 local (11:15 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.357776, -84.572502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3578&lon=-84.5725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99542/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99542 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA310 ## Probable cause The airplane’s impact with a deer on the runway during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, as the main landing gear touched down, he saw three deer run across the runway from the right to the left and directly under the airplane. He decided to go around and added power and increased pitch, but he was not able to clear the animals, and he heard and felt an impact under the airplane. He decided to abort the go-around, so he reduced power and landed back on the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory page for the accident airport stated, in part, the following: "Deer on and [in vicinity of] airport." ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, as the main landing gear touched down, he saw three deer run across the runway from the right to the left and "directly under the plane." He added power and increased pitch for a go around but was not able to clear the animals. He heard and felt an impact under the airplane. He looked at the left engine mirror and observed the nose landing gear "dangling". He decided to abort the go around, so he reduced power and landed back on the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory page for the accident airport, in part, stated: "Deer on and [in vicinity of] airport." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6562A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6562A-2021-04-03), registration cancelled 2021-04-03, S/N 27-7954009, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA23 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-7954009 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 8556.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2019 - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: FFC, Atlanta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FFC, Atlanta Rgnl Falcon Field, runway 13, 5,768 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 9, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KFFC ## 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 20190518004839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190518004839A), May 18, 2019: Piper PA-23-250, Peachtree, GA, Substantial damage. On may 18, 2019, at 7:15AM, clear skies, wind calm, a Piper aztec PA23-250, aircraft making an approach to runway 31 at Falcon field (ffc) Peachtree city,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99542. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Airport Facility Directory (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473732&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Facility%20Directory-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473733&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.