# NTSB CEN22LA052: Cirrus Design SR20, N22WU, Marshall, MI, November 20, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 20, 2021, 10:24 local (15:24 UTC)
- Place: Marshall, MI
- Coordinates: 42.251227, -84.956868 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2512&lon=-84.9569&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104299
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104299/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104299
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA052

## Probable cause

The airplane’s collision with a deer during takeoff.

## 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: [Cirrus Design SR20, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2130000), [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: [Cirrus Design SR20, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2130000), [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: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the transition to takeoff while performing a touch and go, the pilot and flight instructor noticed a deer that ran out from tall grass adjacent to the runway. With the airplane already airborne, the flight crew was unable to avoid the deer. The deer impacted the right wing’s leading edge and wing flap bracket. The flight crew elected to continue the takeoff and returned to the departure airport, which had a longer runway for the landing. The airplane landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22WU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22WU), registered now, S/N 1647, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20
- Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360-ES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-es) (registry code 17160, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1647
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 6999
- Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-360-ES 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Western Michigan University College of Aviation
- Registered owner: Board Of Trustees Of Western Michigan University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 9, 2021
- Departed: BTL, Battle Creek, MI
- Airport: RMY, Brooks Fld, runway 10/28, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 26, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 269 total, 100 in this make and model, 182 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 173 total, 116 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: RMY

## 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 20211120019699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211120019699A), Nov 20, 2021: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Marshall, MI, Substantial damage. During a student instructional flight for a commercial asel add on rating, N22WU, a Cirrus model SR-20 aircraft struck a deer during takeoff rotation on runway…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104299. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12988453&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N22WU%206120_1%20NTSB%20submission%20113021_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12988422&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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