Freedom Springs Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pipe Creek, Texas 78063
Thursday, May 17, 2012 13:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that as the airplane had accelerated to lift-off speed a deer appeared directly in front of the propeller. The airplane struck the deer and veered left. The airplane's left wing was substantially damaged when it subsequently impacted a tree. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane before the deer strike.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An inadvertent collision with a deer during takeoff and the airplaneā€™s subsequent departure from the runway and impact with a tree.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Pipe Creek
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78063
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 294250N
Event Location Longitude 0985136W
Event Location Airport Freedom Springs Ranch Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TA66
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1400
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1315 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ERV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1617
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KERV 171815Z AUTO 16006KT 10SM SCT055 27/12 A3005
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30079
NTSB Notification Source FAA Inspector Bures
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 5 2012 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N625JS
NTSB Number CEN12CA328
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SHIVER
Aircraft Model TAILWIND W-10
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number JS 466
Certified Max Gross Weight 1550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Feb 26 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 977.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CORPUS CHRISTI
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78413
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CORPUS CHRISTI
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78413
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TA66
Departure City Pipe Creek
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1320
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TA66
Destination City Pipe Creek
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 11 2012 8:55PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --