Vandenberg Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tampa, Florida 33680
Sunday, October 8, 1989 21:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF AT NIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A COW THAT HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ANIMAL ON THE APSHALT RUNWAY WITH A DARK BACKGROUND UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THERE WERE SEVERAL ACCESS POINTS WHERE A LARGE ANIMAL COULD HAVE COME ONTO THE AIRPORT. THE EXACT ACCESS POINT WAS NOT DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN ANIMAL (COW) THAT HAD WANDERED ONTO THE ARPT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2105
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TAMPA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33680
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport VANDENBERG
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X16
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 17
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID TPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 27
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1444
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39742
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8149J
NTSB Number MIA90LA009
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-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8216111
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 14 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 3340
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WENRICK AIRCRAFT LEASING CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8606 SHIRLEY DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City TEMPLE TERRACE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33617
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2105
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PMP
Destination City POMPANO BEACH
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3260
Runway Width 65
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --