Johnston County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Smithfield, North Carolina 27577
Monday, June 30, 1997 20:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The instructor reported that he was giving instruction to a pre-solo student pilot, and while conducting the last touch-and-go, the airplane struck a deer. The student was at the controls at the time of the accident, which was at dusk. The instructor stated he did not see the deer. He felt a bump, but thought the airplane had hit a pot hole, until the student informed that they had hit a deer. The student continued the rotation after impact, then the instructor took the controls. The instructor planned to land immediately to inspect the damage, but the deer was still on the runway. He then elected to return to the home airport, where emergency personnel were available, since he was uncertain of the condition of the landing gear. The landing ended without incident. During the occurrence, the left wing, left flap, and main spar were damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

an animal (deer) on the runway. Factors associated with the accident were: the light condition at dusk, and failure or inability of the flight crew to see the deer in time to avoid a collision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/30/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SMITHFIELD
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27577
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JOHNSTON COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JNX
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 165
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 317
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 14 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1421
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2600N
NTSB Number ATL97LA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0936
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 6 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 2754
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHOENIX FLIGHT INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ONE SPRING DELL LANE
Aircraft Owner City CHAPEL HILL
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27514
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RALEIGH FLYING SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 80066
Operator City RALEIGH DURHAM
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27623
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RDU
Departure City RALEIGH-DURHAM
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --