Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Wildlife Encounter (non-bird): Piper PA-23-250, N6562A, accident occurred May 18, 2019 at Atlanta Regional Airport - Falcon Field KFFC Fayette County, Georgia

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket  - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N6562A

Location: Atlanta, GA
Accident Number: GAA19CA310
Date & Time: 05/18/2019, 0715 EDT
Registration: N6562A
Aircraft: Piper PA23
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, as the main landing gear touched down, he saw three deer run across the runway from the right to the left and "directly under the plane." He added power and increased pitch for a go around but was not able to clear the animals. He heard and felt an impact under the airplane. He looked at the left engine mirror and observed the nose landing gear "dangling". He decided to abort the go around, so he reduced power and landed back on the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory page for the accident airport, in part, stated:

"Deer on and [in vicinity of] airport."

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 42, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/06/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/09/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 1500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 600 hours (Total, this make and model), 1300 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 25 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6562A
Model/Series: PA23 250
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 27-7954009
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/06/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 5200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 8556.8 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-540-C4B5
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 250 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KFFC, 798 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1053 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 121°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  8 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fort Pierce, FL (FPR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Atlanta, GA (FFC)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 0400 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: ATLANTA RGNL FALCON FIELD (FFC)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 807 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 13
IFR Approach: Global Positioning System
Runway Length/Width: 5768 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.357778, -84.572500 (est)

1 comment:

  1. quick thinking to stay down. it's unlikely the stress of a go-around would be beneficial to aircraft struck by animals or its airworthiness, but it would've been easy to decide to power up to get some altitude and regroup. It also could've been fatal. Kudos to the PIC

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