# NTSB LAX02LA048: Piper PA-32R-301T, N4328B, Groveland, CA, December 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2001, 17:55 local (Dec 14, 2001, 01:55 UTC) - Place: Groveland, CA - Coordinates: 37.861667, -120.17778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8617&lon=-120.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: WP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53922 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53922/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA048 ## Probable cause The pilot's collision with an unobserved animal that entered the active runway during the dark nighttime when the pilot's visibility was diminished. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - animal(s) (cause) - visual lookout - diminished, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis During the pilot's dark nighttime landing flare on runway 09 at the uncontrolled airport, an unobserved deer crossed the active runway in front of the approaching airplane. The airplane's undercarriage impacted the deer, and the landing gear collapsed. Thereafter, the pilot lost control of the airplane as it veered off the runway coming to rest oriented 180 degrees from the landing direction. The Federal Aviation Administration's "Airport/Facility Directory" contained the following remark for the airport: "Be alert deer on and in vicinity of arpt...." ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2001, about 1755 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N4328B, collided with a deer during landing flare at the Pine Mountain Lake (uncontrolled) Airport, Groveland, California. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial certificated pilot nor the two passengers were injured during the nighttime flight. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated from San Jose, California, about 1700. The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the runway lights were operating upon his arrival at Groveland. It was a dark night, and he did not observe any animals on or in the vicinity of runway 09. During landing flare, a deer crossed the runway in front of the airplane. The airplane's undercarriage impacted the deer, and the left main landing gear collapsed. Thereafter, the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane came to rest in an upright attitude on airport property, oriented 180 degrees from the landing direction. There was no fire. The Federal Aviation Administration's "Airport/Facility Directory" contains the following remarks regarding the presence of animals at the airport: "Be alert deer on and in vicinity of arpt...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4328B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4328B), registered now, S/N 32R-8429003, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R-301T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-8429003 - Airframe hours: 3808 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Silvano Gai - Registered owner: TAT Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 2001, 27 hours before - Departed: SJC, San Jose, CA - Destination: Q68, Groveland - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: Q68, Pine Mountain Lake, runway 09, 3,625 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 544 total, 113 in this make and model, 398 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: MOD, 39 nm away ## 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 20011213034059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011213034059A), Dec 13, 2001: Piper PA32R301T, Groveland, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft struck deer on runway just after landing touchdown. (.19) on December 13, 2001, about 1755 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301T,… 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.