# NTSB CEN21LA279: Cessna 310R, N310LC, Portland, IN, June 19, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2021, 20:30 local (Jun 19, 2021, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Portland, IN - Coordinates: 40.451543, -84.988608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4515&lon=-84.9886&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103296/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103296 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA279 ## Probable cause The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during 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 310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2074245), [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: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing flare, a deer ran onto the left side of the runway and collided with the airplane; the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane veered to the left and continued off the runway into a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaacident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport does not have a perimeter fence for wildlife hazard mitigation. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2021, about 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310R airplane, N310LC, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Portland Municipal Airport (PLD), Portland, Indiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight. The pilot reported that he diverted to PLD due to thunderstorms. During the landing flare, a deer ran onto the left side of the runway and collided with airplane, separating the left main landing gear from the airplane. The airplane veered to the left and continued off the runway into a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The airport does not have a perimeter fence for wildlife hazard mitigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N310LC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N310LC-2022-12-31), registration cancelled 2022-12-31, S/N 310R1595, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310R - Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310R1595 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 6179.8 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520-MB 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors IO-520-MB1B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: B & F Aviation Inc, doing business as Sonrise Aviation - Registered owner: Sonrise Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 2021 - Departed: C02, Lake Geneva, WI - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PLD, Portland Muni, runway 09/27, 4,002 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 1,486.6 total, 227.7 in this make and model, 1,396.1 as pilot in command, 195.5 in the last 90 days, 79.5 in the last 30 days, 7.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KMIE, 23 nm away - METAR: KMIE 190053Z 22007KT 10SM CLR 28/19 A2978 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT S SLP071 T02780194 ## 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 20210618004259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210618004259A), Jun 18, 2021: Cessna 310R, Portland, IN, Substantial damage. On June 18, 2021, at approximately 2027 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310 aircraft, N310LC, was substantially damaged during landing at the Portland… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103296. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12726961&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot%20(esign)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12726641&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Passenger%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12725462&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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.