# NTSB CEN12CA305: Cessna A185F, N4742E, Crystal Falls, MI, May 16, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2012, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Crystal Falls, MI
- Coordinates: 46.008888, -88.273887
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0089&lon=-88.2739&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-GRR-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA305
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83683/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83683
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA305

## Probable cause

The pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid deer that unexpectedly ran into the airplane's path during the landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Two deer ran out of a wooded area and toward the runway from left to right in front of the airplane during the landing roll. The pilot applied left rudder in an attempt to avoid the deer, assuming they were going to continue across the runway. One of the deer continued across the runway. The other deer stopped on the runway and turned around to go back into the woods. The pilot applied right rudder in order to avoid the second deer and the airplane ground-looped. The left wing was substantially damaged when it contacted the ground during the ground loop.

## Factual narrative

Two deer ran out of a wooded area and toward the runway from left to right in front of the airplane during the landing roll. The pilot applied left rudder in an attempt to avoid the deer, assuming they were going to continue across the runway. One of the deer continued across the runway. The other deer stopped on the runway and turned around going back into the woods. The pilot applied right rudder in order to avoid the second deer and the airplane ground looped. The left wing was substantially damaged when it contacted the terrain during the ground loop.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4742E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4742E), registered now, S/N 18503853 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503853
- Airframe hours: 3157
- Engines: Continental IO-520-D29B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Whitehead Dennis C
- Registered owner: Whitehead Dennis C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2011, 48 hours before
- Departed: IMT, Iron Mountain, MI
- Destination: 50D, Crystal Falls, MI
- Airport: 50D, Iron County Airport, runway 30

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 5,309 total, 225 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: IMT, 15 nm away

## 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 20120516007499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120516007499A), May 16, 2012: Cessna A185F, Crystal Falls, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing on the airport at dusk. The airport and surrounding forrest are heavly populated with deer. During touchdown, a pair of deer ran into the…

## Other investigations on N4742E (4)

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 CEN23LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA189), May 16, 2023: Cessna A185f (N4742E), Grand Junction, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with gusting wind.
- [NTSB LAX93LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA065), Dec 13, 1992: Cessna 185F (N4742E), Lanai, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT OBSTRUCTIONS WERE HIDDEN IN THE GRASS OF THE LANDING AREA CHOSEN BY THE PILOT FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
- [NTSB ANC88LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA090), Jul 11, 1988: Cessna A185F (N4742E), Georgetown, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN80DTE05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80DTE05), Nov 13, 1979: Cessna 185 (N4742E), Greeley, CO, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83683. 868 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 868 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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