# NTSB CEN26LA035: Cessna 172, N9490H, Grantsburg, WI, November 5, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 4, 2025, 18:30 local (Nov 5, 2025, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Grantsburg, WI
- Coordinates: 45.799931, -92.668789 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7999&lon=-92.6688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201961
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201961/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201961
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA035

## Probable cause

The collision with a white-tail deer during the landing in dark night visual conditions.

## 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 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 359 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 359 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 · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 359 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 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 359 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,428 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was on final approach to the runway in dark night visual conditions with no moon illumination present. She observed that the airport lighting seemed dim and the area surrounding the runway was not illuminated. When she initiated the landing flare, she observed a white-tailed deer running across the runway from the right to the left. She initiated a go-around; however, the deer impacted the right horizontal stabilizer. During the go-around, she noticed a reduced climb performance and a right yaw, however she was able to safely control the airplane. She decided to divert to a different airport due to the possibility of additional deer being present near the runway or perhaps a dead deer on the runway. The pilot contacted air traffic control and landed at a nearby airport without further incident. The right horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The current airport entry in the FAA Airport/Facility Directory states in the remarks section, “deer & waterfowl on and invof arpt.” According to the University of Wisconsin, white-tail deer prefer an open forest environment consisting of meadows, woodland clearings and farmland and additionally prefer low light to forage, mainly at sunrise and sunset. The accident occurred about 1 hour and 38 minutes after sunset. The publicly owned airport, which is located next to a 30,000-acre state wildlife area, does not have fencing installed to exclude deer and other mammals, nor is it required to. The FAA has published CertAlert 16-03 Recommended Wildlife Exclusion Fencing and states in part: Proper fencing is the best way of keeping deer and coyotes off aircraft movement areas. The FAA recommends a 10-foot fence with 3-strand barbed wire outriggers.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9490H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9490H), registered now, S/N 17266177, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266177
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 2233
- Engines: Lycoming Engines O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 2024, 177 hours before
- Departed: ELO, Ely, MN
- Destination: GTG, Grantsburg, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GTG, Grantsburg Muni, runway 12/30, 2,999 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 12, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 758 total, 425 in this make and model, 562 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: KRZN, 12 nm away
- METAR: KRZN 050015Z AUTO 11003KT 10SM OVC060 12/M04 A2988 RMK AO2 T01211036

## 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 20251104016669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251104016669A), Nov 4, 2025: Cessna 172M, Grantsburg, WI, Substantial damage. The PIC was on an IFR approach an hour past sunset. As the pilot flared to land, her right wing strobe light briefly illuminated a deer which was running from…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201961. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19556277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA035%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 697 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19557705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- FAA airport/facility directory - grantsburg municipal airport (gtg) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19557563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Airport%20Information-Rel.pdf
- Grantsburg municipal airport (gtg) - airport fencing information (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19557287&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Information_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA certalert 16-03 - recommended wildlife exclusion fencing (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 280 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19558440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20CertAlert%2016-03_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- University of Wisconsin - white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) information (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19557883&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=University%20of%20Wisconsin%20-%20White-Tailed%20Deer%20Information-Rel.pdf
- Wisconsin department of natural resources - crex meadows wildlife area map (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 684 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19562320&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Crex%20Meadows%20Wildlife%20Area%20Map-Rel.pdf
- NTSB meteorological information (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19570579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA035%20NTSB%20Meteorological%20Information-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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