- Date
- August 9, 1996, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place
- Gaithersburg, MD
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1439TPiper PA-32-260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960809046009A
- Case key
- 28096
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 unexpected appearance of a deer on the runway.
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 the takeoff roll, the pilot took his eyes off the runway to scan his airspeed. At about 75 to 80 kts, he began to rotate, then he heard a loud bang. The aircraft pitched up 7 to 8 degrees and the stall warning light illuminated. The pilot was able to control the aircraft and returned to the airport, where he landed without further incident. Investigation revealed the aircraft sustained substantial damage when it struck a deer.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On August 9, 1996, at about 1740 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N1439T, owned and operated by Aero Industries, Inc., struck a deer during departure from Montgomery County Airpark, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The pilot and the one passenger were not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight was departing Gaithersburg with an intended destination of Richmond, Virginia, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135.
The pilot stated that on takeoff roll at about 60 knots, (kts) or so he took his eyes from outside to inside to check his airspeed. At about 70 kts he began to put back pressure on the control yoke. At about 75 to 80 kts, the nose wheel lifted off and the weight transferred from the main gear to the wings. He said it was at this moment that he heard a loud bang and the aircraft pitched up about 7 to 8 degrees followed by a flicker of the stall warning light. He said the engine was still at full power however the aircraft felt crippled. He attempted several times to turn left but the aircraft would "buffet" so he turned right and returned to the airport without further incident.
Wreckage examination/documentation
Damage was found on the right wing, right flap, top right side of the right elevator, right main fuel cell, and the right main landing gear strut.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1439T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7200039
- Airframe hours
- 11,588
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Aero Industries
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 30, 1996 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- GAI
- Destination
- RIC · Richmond, VA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- GAI · Gaithersburg, runway 32, 4,196 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 35
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,162 total · 1,452 in this make and model · 4,230 as pilot in command · 138 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.