# NTSB WPR20CA312: Beechcraft C90A, N982SB, Fortuna, CA, August 31, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2020, 22:00 local (Aug 31, 2020, 05:00 UTC)
- Place: Fortuna, CA
- Coordinates: 40.55389, -124.13277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5539&lon=-124.1328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101997
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA312
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101997/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101997
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA312

## Probable cause

A collision with a deer while landing at night.

## 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 equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of a multi-engine airplane reported that, during the night landing, a deer ran across the runway and struck the left engine. The pilot subsequently taxied the airplane to the ramp without further incident. The left engine mount was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N982SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N982SB), registered now, S/N LJ-1518, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beechcraft C90A
- Registry model: [Raytheon C90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-c90a) (registry code 7150004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ-1518
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 3868.3
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A 750 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Guardian Flight, Llc
- Registered owner: Cal-Ore Life Flight Llc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: June 4, 2020
- Departed: CEC, Crescent City, CA
- Destination: FOT, Fortuna, CA
- Airport: FOT, Rohnerville, runway 11, 4,005 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 4.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KFOT

## 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 20200830013979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200830013979A), Aug 30, 2020: Raytheon Aircraft Company C90A, Fortuna, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed kcec for kfot. Upon touchdown at kfot aircraft struck a large deer. Impact damage to the left engine, propeller, cowl, engine mount and…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101997. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11499017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA312%20NTSB%206120%20(Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12463658&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20Damage-Rel.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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