# NTSB ATL95LA029: Cessna 172F, N5440R, Carrollton, GA, December 18, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 18, 1994, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Carrollton, GA
- Coordinates: 33.580146, -85.069946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5801&lon=-85.0699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3507
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3507/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA029

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT COLLISION WITH TREES, ADJACENT TO THE TAXIWAY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A DEER THAT CROSSED THE TAXIWAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - animal(s)
  - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT, WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, A DEER CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE DEER, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY INTO A STAND OF TREES.

## Factual narrative

On December 18, 1994, at 1815 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172F, N5440R, veered off a taxiway and collided with a stand of trees while taxing for take off at West Georgia Regional Airport, Carrollton, Georgia. The solo flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Villa Rica, Georgia, at 1530 hours.

According to the pilot, he completed a full stop landing and was back-taxing for another takeoff from runway 34. As the airplane approached the hold area, short of the active runway, a deer crossed the taxiway in front of the airplane. The pilot lost control of the airplane as he swerved to avoid a collision with the deer. The airplane went off the right side of the taxiway, and collided with a stand of trees.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5440R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5440R-2013-01-30), registration cancelled 2013-01-30, S/N 17252990, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17252990
- Airframe hours: 2740
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Watson, Tracy S.
- Registered owner: Performance Aero Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1994, 40 hours before
- Departed: 20GA, VILLA RICA, GA
- Destination: CTJ
- Airport: CTJ, West Georgia Regional, runway 34, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 35 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CTJ

## 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 19941218041709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941218041709A), Dec 18, 1994: Cessna 172F, Carrollton, GA, Substantial damage. While back taxiing on runway turned onto holding area. A deer ran in front of 172. Student lost control hit trees.

## Other investigations on N5440R (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI71FBA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBA01), Jul 8, 1970: Cessna 172 (N5440R), Orleans, IN, destroyed

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.

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