Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20S accident near New Castle, Pennsylvania, September 20, 2008
On September 20, 2008 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20S, registered N2184N, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near New Castle, Pennsylvania (New Castle Municipal Airport). 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The on-ground collision with a deer during the takeoff roll. A contributing factor in the accident was the failure to completely secure the airport perimeter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2008 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- New Castle, Pennsylvania · New Castle Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20S
- Registration
- N2184N · registry record · serial 30-0039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll from an airport that did not have the perimeter completely fenced, the airplane collided with a deer that ran across the runway. The pilot successfully aborted the takeoff and taxied to his hangar.
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
What happened, in order
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,157 hours in all; 690 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,087 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 16, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 942 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: C & M Aeronautical INC
The flight
- Departed from: UCP New Castle PA at 11:50 pm
- Destination: UCP New Castle PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from UCP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N2184N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.