- Date
- May 1, 2012, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- Three Rivers, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N30380Cessna 172M
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20120501006829A
- Case key
- 83549
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Collision with a deer during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. During the second touch-and-go, as the airplane rotated for takeoff, it hit a deer. The CFI took control of the airplane, continued the takeoff, and established that there were no vibrations and that the airplane was controllable. The CFI elected to divert to a nearby airport where emergency services were available, if needed, and landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing strut and right gear mount were bent, and the right side of the fuselage was buckled.
Factual narrative
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), they were practicing touch and go landings. During the second touch and go, the airplane hit a deer, just as the airplane rotated. The CFI continued with the takeoff and established that there were no vibrations and that the airplane was controllable. The CFI elected to divert to a nearby airport where emergency services were available, and landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing strut and right gear mount were bent and the right side of the fuselage was buckled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30380
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17264138
- Airframe hours
- 4,505
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Fly Kalamazoo LLC
- Registered owner
- Fly Kalamazoo LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KA20 · Kalamazoo, MI
- Destination
- KHAI · Three Rivers, MI
- Airport
- KHAI · Three Rivers Municipal Airport, runway 09, 4,000 × 75 ft
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 24, 2010
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,776 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 2,845 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KHAI
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.