# NTSB NYC02LA081: Beech BE-23, N2375Z, Louisa, VA, April 8, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 2002, 21:30 local (Apr 8, 2002, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Louisa, VA
- Coordinates: 38.006668, -77.968612
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0067&lon=-77.9686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 54473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54473/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54473
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA081

## Probable cause

The airplane's inadvertent collision with a deer while landing at night.  A factor in the accident was the night condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - object - animal(s) (cause)

## Analysis

While landing at night, a deer struck the right side of the airplane which buckled the fuselage and substantially damaged the horizontal stabilizer.

## Factual narrative

On April 7, 2002, about 2130 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-23, N2375Z, was substantially damaged while landing at the Louisa County/Freeman Field Airport (LKU), Louisa, Virginia.  The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated from Hummel Field Airport, Saluda, Virginia.  The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, the airplane was landing on runway 9, a 4,301-foot long, 100-foot wide, asphalt runway.  During the landing roll the pilot noticed a deer in the distance, and when the airplane was approximately 5 feet above the runway a deer struck the right side of the airplane.  The pilot executed a "go-around," and noticed he had limited movement of the yoke due a "jammed" stabilator; however, the pilot landed without further incident.

An examination of the airplane revealed a buckled fuselage, and a substantially damaged stabilator.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2375Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2375Z), registered now, S/N M-99, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech BE-23
- Registry model: [Beech 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-23) (registry code 1151202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-99
- Airframe hours: 2151
- Engines: Lycoming L-5257-39 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Daniel E. Garriques
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 2001, 26 hours before
- Departed: W75, SALUDA, VA
- Destination: LKU, Louisa, VA
- Airport: LKU, Louisa County/Freeman Field, runway 09, 4,301 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 29, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 900 total, 500 in this make and model, 840 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observed at: LKU

## 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 20020407017699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020407017699A), Apr 7, 2002: Beech 23, Louisa, VA, No damage. (-23) During the landing, a deer was spotted on the runway, and the pilot, daniel garriques, elected to go around. After power was applied, the deer impacted…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54473. 549 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 549 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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