# NTSB CEN20LA429: Cessna 172, N461CM, Higginsville, MO, September 30, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2020, 22:50 local (Sep 30, 2020, 03:50 UTC)
- Place: Higginsville, MO · rwy 16
- Coordinates: 39.072278, -93.677297 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0723&lon=-93.6773&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102070
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA429
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102070/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA429

## Probable cause

The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during takeoff at night.

## 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot had just completed a full stop landing at night. During the subsequent takeoff roll, a deer collided with the left side of the airplane and became entangled in the wing strut. After the collision, the pilot stopped the airplane on the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N461CM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N461CM), registered now, S/N 17280853, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (T42A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280853
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: University Of Central Missouri
- Registered owner: University Of Central Missouri
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: RCM, Warrensburg, MO
- Airport: KHIG, Higginsville Industrial Municipal Airport, runway 16, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 95 total, 95 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KMHL, 22 nm away
- METAR: KMHL 300335Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM CLR 12/07 A2986 RMK AO2

## 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 20200929016269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200929016269A), Sep 29, 2020: Cessna 172R, Substantial damage. Pilot was completing solo work as part of his commercial pilot training program. While operating under night VFR, he began is takeoff roll from khig…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102070. 561 KB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11597850&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12476424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11597985&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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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