- Date
- October 24, 2012, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place
- Carrollton, OH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5978ECessna 150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20121024024129A
- Case key
- 85428
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
The airplane’s collision with two 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 pilot, during the takeoff roll, two deer ran out onto the runway. The propeller struck one deer and the second deer was struck by the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot was able to maintain control of the airplane and taxied back to the ramp without further incident. The empennage was twisted and partially separated at the aft bulkhead and the right horizontal stabilizer was crushed aft and bent up. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane before the impact.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, two deer ran out onto the runway. The airplane struck one deer with the propeller and the second deer with the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot was able to maintain control of the airplane and taxied back to the ramp without further incident. The empennage was twisted and partially separated at the aft bulkhead and the right horizontal stabilizer was crushed aft and bent up. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5978E
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17478
- Airframe hours
- 2,752.5
- Engine
- Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 18, 2012 · 8.5 hours before
- Departed
- KTSO · Carrollton, OH
- Destination
- KACK · Akron, OH
- Airport
- KTSO · Carroll County-Tolson Airport, runway 25, 4,297 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 2, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 316 total · 19 in this make and model · 233 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- KPHD, 17 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 393 KB 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.