Piper PA-28-161 accident near Tampa, Florida, October 9, 1989
On October 9, 1989 at about 1:05 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8149J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Vandenberg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ANIMAL (COW) THAT HAD WANDERED ONTO THE ARPT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1989 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Vandenberg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8149J · no longer on the register · serial 28-8216111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF AT NIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A COW THAT HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ANIMAL ON THE APSHALT RUNWAY WITH A DARK BACKGROUND UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THERE WERE SEVERAL ACCESS POINTS WHERE A LARGE ANIMAL COULD HAVE COME ONTO THE AIRPORT. THE EXACT ACCESS POINT WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: 440 hours in all; 335 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 388 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1989; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PMP Pompano Beach FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 3,260 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.