# NTSB CEN21LA003: Cessna 172, N4972G, Hinckley, MN, October 3, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 3, 2020, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Hinckley, MN
- Coordinates: 46.022868, -92.895174 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0229&lon=-92.8952&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 102082
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102082/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102082
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA003

## Probable cause

The airplane’s impact with deer while landing.

## 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072434), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Before landing, the pilot and flight instructor performed a mid-field transition over the runway and no wildlife were visible. The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during the landing roll on the runway, two deer impacted the airplane’s right forward fuselage and propeller. They maneuvered the airplane off the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport manager/owner reported that since the airport was built 15 years ago, this was the first wildlife encounter with an aircraft. He stated that the airport did not have a perimeter fence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4972G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4972G), registered now, S/N 17273519, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273519
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 6690
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2A0 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2020, 55.8 hours before
- Departed: MZH, Moose Lake, MN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 04W, Field of Dreams Airport, runway 24, 2,751 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,716 total, 250 in this make and model, 10,629 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 6, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 203 total, 121 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: KJMR, 18 nm away
- METAR: KJMR 032315Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM -DZ BKN039 OVC045 06/02 A3021 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 20201003019999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201003019999A), Oct 3, 2020: Cessna 172N, Hinkley, MN, Substantial damage. 2020-10-03, N4972, Cessna 172 was out practicing landings on numerous airfields. There were two pilots on board; the pic's former CFI was with him, showing him…

## 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=102082. 5.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11472950&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - airport manager (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12495096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Airport%20Manager-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11472557&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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