Jefferson County Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Steubenville, Ohio 43953
Wednesday, December 17, 1997 19:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot and the certificated flight instructor (CFI) taxied to the runway, where the private pilot applied power and started the take off roll. The pilots reported feeling a jolt just after rotation, and the airplane veered to the right. The CFI immediately took control of the airplane and began to maneuver the airplane around obstructions. The CFI reported that the airplane responded sluggishly to his inputs, and it would not climb or accelerate. The CFI stated that he lowered the nose of the airplane to prevent a stall, and shortly thereafter, the airplane collided with trees. A deer carcass along with parts from the airplane's right wing were located less than a third of the way from the approach end of the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Collision with deer on runway during initial takeoff and climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/17/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City STEUBENVILLE
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43953
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2G2
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 1200
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID HLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 1195
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1928
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 19 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 953
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 13 2001 9:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N28122
NTSB Number IAD98LA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bellanca
Aircraft Model 17-30A
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-30A
Aircraft Serial Number 78-30893
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
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 Jun 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 160
Airframe Hours 2300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NATHAN M. MICHAEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 36 S COURT ST STE 101
Aircraft Owner City ATHENS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45701
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 2G2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 14
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --