# NTSB ATL06CA043: Cessna 172P, N902NS, Birmingham, AL, February 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 1, 2006, 20:45 local (Feb 2, 2006, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Birmingham, AL - Coordinates: 33.562778, -86.753334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5628&lon=-86.7533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO 09 Birmingham - NTSB case key (mKey): 63254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63254/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA043 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a deer during a go around, which resulted in damage to the left main landing gear and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - animal(s) (cause) - landing gear,main gear - bent - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern for runway 5 at Bessemer Airport, Bessemer, Alabama. "About 10 feet above the ground two deer came into the landing light from the left. I proceeded to go-around. As I started to pull up and climb, the left main gear contacted one of the deer. I continued the climb to a safe altitude and cleaned up the aircraft. I looked outside to inspect the left main gear to find it severely damaged." The pilot made the decision to divert to Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama. The pilot was vectored for a visual approach to runway 36. The airplane was landed on the right main landing gear, and the pilot held the airplane off the ground as long as possible. The left wing and stabilizer contacted the runway, and the airplane went off the left side of the runway coming to a complete stop. ## Factual narrative On February 1, 2006, at 2045 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, N902NS, registered to and operated by Northern States Aviation, Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 repositioning flight, collided with a deer while attempting to land at the Bessemer Airport, Bessemer, Alabama. The pilot diverted to Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama, and made a forced landing. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Drake Field, Fayetteville, Arkansas, on February 1, 2006, at 1745. The pilot stated he entered the traffic pattern for runway 5 at Bessemer Airport, Bessemer, Alabama. "About 10 feet above the ground two deer came into the landing light from the left. I proceeded to go-around. As I started to pull up and climb, the left main gear contacted one of the deer. I continued the climb to a safe altitude and cleaned up the aircraft. I looked outside to inspect the left main gear to find it severely damaged." The pilot made the decision to divert to Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama. The pilot was vectored for a visual approach to runway 36. The airplane was landed on the right main landing gear, and the pilot held the airplane off the ground as long as possible. The left wing and stabilizer contacted the runway, and the airplane went off the left side of the runway coming to a complete stop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N902NS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N902NS), registered now, S/N 17275415, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172754415 - Airframe hours: 5350 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Northern States Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Reliance Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 206 hours before - Departed: KFYV, Fayetteville, AR - Destination: KEKY, Bessemer, AL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KBHM, Birmingham International, runway 36, 7,100 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 628 total, 239 in this make and model, 519 as pilot in command, 153 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KBHM ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060201001669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060201001669A), Feb 1, 2006: Cessna 172P, Birmingham, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that during the final landing phase of the flight at about ten feet above the runway two deer came onto the runway from the left. He… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.