Probable cause
The airplane's impact with a deer during takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airplane collided with two deer just after rotation. He continued the climbout and assessed that the flight controls functioned normally, but that the airplane was having issues with pressurization, and he was unable to communicate via radio. He eventually was able to contact air traffic control via mobile phone to coordinate their arrival at the destination and landed there uneventfully. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it had sustained substantial damage to the right wing and its pressure vessel during the collision with the deer.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA21LA227 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 2, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Charleston Exec (JZI)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 550
- N-number
- N803SC
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1989
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.