Piper PA-32-301T accident near Austin, Texas, September 27, 1998
On September 27, 1998 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32-301T, registered N83894, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas (Mathis Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collision with deer during the landing roll. Factors were the dark night light condition and the separation of the lower strut assembly from the right main landing gear, on the subsequent flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1998 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Mathis Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301T · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N83894 · registry record · serial 32-8124029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane impacted a deer during the landing roll at night. The airplane's propeller struck a deer, which subsequently struck the right main landing gear assembly. The pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp and he exited the airplane. The following morning the pilot assessed the damage and decided to fly the airplane around the pattern. Upon liftoff, the lower strut assembly from the right main landing gear, including the wheel, separated from the airplane. The pilot continued the flight and landed the airplane at another airport.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 852 hours in all; 797 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 830 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,729 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 1998; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-580-SIAD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4R2 TX at 12:45 pm
- Destination: SJT San Angelo TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,939 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from AUS, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.