Wildlife Encounter (Non-bird): Beech C90A King Air, N982SB; accident occurred August 30, 2020 at Rohnerville Airport (KFOT), Fortuna, Humboldt County, California

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oakland, California

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

Cal-Ore Life Flight LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N982SB

Location: Fortuna, California

Accident Number: WPR20CA312

Date & Time: August 30, 2020, 22:00 Local 

Registration: N982SB

Aircraft: Beechcraft C90A 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)

Injuries: 3 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Unspecified)

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.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

A collision with a deer while landing at night.

Findings

Environmental issues Animal(s)/bird(s) - Effect on equipment

Environmental issues Dark - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll Wildlife encounter (non-bird) (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial

Age: 64,Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 

Last FAA Medical Exam: December 3, 2019

Occupational Pilot: Yes 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 9, 2020

Flight Time: (Estimated) 15000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1000 hours (Total, this make and model), 7500 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 73 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 39 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beechcraft 

Registration: N982SB

Model/Series: C90A 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 1998 

Amateur Built:

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 

Serial Number: LJ-1518

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle

Seats: 5

Date/Type of Last Inspection: June 4, 2020 

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 10160 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: 2 Turbo prop

Airframe Total Time: 3868.3 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney

ELT: C126 installed 

Engine Model/Series: PT6A-135A

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 750 Horsepower

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand air taxi (135)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 

Condition of Light: Night

Observation Facility, Elevation: KFOT,391 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 05:15 Local

Direction from Accident Site: 303°

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 

Visibility 8 miles

Lowest Ceiling: None 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots / 

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None

Wind Direction: 110°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 29.89 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point: 11°C / 8°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Crescent City, CA (CEC) 

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Destination: Fortuna, CA (FOT)

Type of Clearance: None

Departure Time: 02:14 Local

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: ROHNERVILLE FOT 

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 392 ft msl 

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 11 

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 4005 ft / 100 ft

VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Straight-in

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 2 None 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 3 None 

Latitude, Longitude: 40.55389,-124.13277(est)