History of Flight
On April 23, 2010, at about 2245 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-46-350P Mirage, registration N364ST, was substantially damaged when it struck several deer during the takeoff roll on runway 7 at Oconee County Regional Airport (CEU), Clemson, South Carolina. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual night meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan was filed for the business flight.
The owner/pilot based the airplane at Smith Reynolds Airport (INT), Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The day before, the pilot flew from INT to CEU and returned that night without incident. On the accident day, he again flew from INT to CEU. For the night return trip, he conducted a preflight inspection after dark and detected no anomalies. He started the engine about 2240 and listened to the CEU Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) broadcast, which favored runway 7 and did not mention deer or other wildlife. The pilot activated the airport lighting and taxied to the runup area for runway 7, using two wingtip taxi lights. He conducted the runup with the airplane angled to see approaching aircraft.
The pilot planned to obtain air traffic control clearance after becoming airborne. He turned on the landing light (mounted on the nose landing gear) and took the runway. He applied full power and released the brakes. At an estimated speed between 50 and 65 knots, the pilot saw approximately four to six brown animals moving left to right across the airplane's path. He felt a thump on the left wing and instinctively pulled back on the control column. The airplane became airborne, then he felt another collision on the lower front engine area and pulled harder on the yoke. With the airplane in a nose-high attitude, the stall warning horn sounded and airspeed decreased. The pilot reduced back pressure. The airplane touched down hard on the main landing gear, and the nose dropped until the propeller and fuselage contacted the runway. The airplane veered right; the pilot retarded the throttle, prop, and fuel controls to shut down the engine. After stopping, he secured the engine and systems.
The airport director reported that an emergency response began at 2248 via telephone. Volunteer fire and rescue personnel from two organizations arrived about 2256. Two deer were found on the runway, one cut into three pieces. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) closing the runway was issued about 2300. The airplane and deer were removed, the runway inspected, and the NOTAM cancelled at 0105 the next day.
Personnel Information
FAA records showed the pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument ratings. He had about 1,106 total flight hours, including 406 hours in the accident make and model. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in August 2009, and his last flight review was completed in December 2009.
Meteorological Information
The 2254 recorded weather observation at CEU included winds from 210 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 24°C, dew point 10°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury. Local sunset was about 2010.
Airport Information
CEU was a public airport owned and operated by Oconee County, with a single asphalt runway designated 7/25, measuring 4,400 by 100 feet. Before the accident, neither the ASOS broadcasts nor the FAA Airport/Facility Directory contained information about deer at the airport. Several days after the accident, a NOTAM was issued stating "DEER ON AND INVOF RWY," and the text "Deer on and Inv of rwy" was added to the Airport Remarks section of the AFD. Deer information was not added to the ASOS.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airport director stated the airplane struck the deer about 1,350 feet from the departure threshold and came to rest off the south side of the runway about 650 feet beyond the strike. Examination revealed the nose landing gear collapsed, the right wing radar pod was dented and cracked, all three propeller blades fractured, one engine mount attach point fractured, and the firewall buckled.
Additional Information
FAA documents note that mammal strikes accounted for 14% of all reported strikes at general aviation airports between 1990 and 2007. CEU was not certificated under Part 139 but could implement wildlife guidance. At the time of the accident, a federally funded runway extension project was underway at the approach end of runway 25. A wooded area of about 60 acres, owned by a nearby university, was north of and adjacent to the airport, with treeline about 150 feet from the runway and no fence. The airport director said deer regularly fed on vegetation around the runway. He had a deer depredation permit but suspended it due to construction hazards. He was working with the FAA to acquire a grant for a fence along the northern boundary.