Astoria Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Astoria, Oregon 97146
Tuesady, December 3, 2002 6:12 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot (PIC) reported that during acceleration for takeoff (approximately V1 [takeoff decision speed]) the airplane collided with an elk. The PIC reported that after the collision, he applied wheel brakes and deployed the airplane's drag chute, however, the airplane continued off the departure end of the runway. The airplane came to rest in a marshy bog approximately 50 feet beyond the departure threshold. Currently, approximately 15,000 feet of the airport's perimeter is bordered with animal control fence. The airport recently received a FAA Aviation Improvement Program (AIP) Grant that will provide funding for an additional 9,000-feet of fence. Airport officials stated that the fencing project should be completed by summer of 2003. At the completion of the project, game control fencing will encompass the entire airport perimeter. The U.S. Government Airport/Facilities Directory (A/FD) contains the following remarks for the Astoria Regional Airport: "Herds of elk on and in the vicinity of airport..."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Collision with an elk during the takeoff roll. Factors include dark night VFR conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/3/2002
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 612
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Astoria
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97146
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 460929N
Event Location Longitude 1235243W
Event Location Airport ASTORIA REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AST
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 80
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 555 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KAST
Elevation of weather observation facility 15
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 3700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13430
NTSB Notification Source FAA - ROC
NTSB Notification Date Dec 3 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 612
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, Oregon

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N546PA
NTSB Number SEA03LA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Learjet
Aircraft Model 36A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 36A-045
Certified Max Gross Weight 18300
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 26 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8.5
Airframe Hours 12335.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CFF Air, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 Phoenix Air Drive, SW
Aircraft Owner City Cartersville
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30120
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Phoenix Air
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KAST
Departure City Astoria
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 612
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KAST
Destination City Astoria
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Mar 25 2003 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08
Runway Length 5796
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --