Norwood Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Norwood, Massachusetts 02062
Friday, November 1, 1996 21:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/1/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NORWOOD
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02062
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NORWOOD MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OWD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 50
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2156 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID BOS
Elevation of weather observation facility 20
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1691
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 2 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:28AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1216T
NTSB Number NYC97LA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R7235238
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 5 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 5257
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORWOOD AIR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 209 ACCESS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NORWOOD
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02062
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IAG
Departure City NIAGARA FALLS
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1825
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code OWD
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 4007
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --