- Date
- November 1, 1996, 21:00 local (Nov 2, 1996, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Norwood, MA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1216TPiper PA-28R-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961102034649A
- Case key
- 39299
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
failure of the pilot to perform a go-around, when an animal obstructed the runway; and his failure to maintain clearance from an obstruction (VASI). Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, an animal (deer) on the runway, and the proximity of the obstruction.
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
The pilot was returning to his departure airport at 2100, and flew the localizer approach to runway 35. The control tower was closed, and the ATIS stated that the pilot controlled lighting (PCL) was in operation. The pilot stated that he was not able to activate the PCL, and performed a go-around. During the go-around, he was able to activate the runway lights, which included the runway visual approach slope indicator (VASI) for runway 35. During his second approach, while on final, he reduced power at 100 feet and then observed a deer on the runway. The pilot veered the airplane left to avoid the deer, and the airplane touched down on the grass parallel to the runway. After a 300 foot ground roll, the airplane struck the VASI.
Factual narrative
On November 1, 1996, at 2100 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N1216T, was substantially damaged when it collided with a visual approach slope indicator (VASI), while landing at the Norwood Memorial Airport, Norwood, Massachusetts. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Niagara Falls, New York, at 1825. An instrument flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot rented the airplane at the Norwood Memorial Airport (OWD), and flew it to Niagara Falls with two passengers. During the return flight, he flew the OWD localizer approach to runway 35. The OWD control tower was closed, and the ATIS stated that the pilot controlled lighting (PCL) was in operation. The pilot stated that he was not able to activate the PCL, and performed a go-around. During the go-around he was able to activate the runway lights, which included the VASI for runway 35.
He further stated:
"...This ride was smooth and aligned with LOC (localizer), and VASI. I had full flaps and reduced power at about 100 feet. A few seconds later I saw an animal (I believe a deer) just on the runway, and abruptly turned left, but did not pull up. By the time I leveled the wings out, I was hitting the VASI, and then landed on the grass..."
The Norwood Police report stated that there were tire marks in the grass for approximately 300 feet before the VASI lights. It also stated that examination of the airplane revealed "...damage to both wings and tail. There was also a large amount of mud on the underside of the plane..."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1216T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R7235238
- Airframe hours
- 5,257
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Norwood Air
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 5, 1996 · 79 hours before
- Departed
- IAG · Niagara Falls, NY
- Destination
- OWD
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- OWD · Norwood Memorial, runway 35, 4,007 × 150 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
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 740 total · 250 in this make and model · 600 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BOS, 14 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.