# NTSB CHI01LA035: Cessna 177RG, N8027G, Wautoma, WI, November 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 17, 2000, 18:10 local (Nov 18, 2000, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Wautoma, WI - Coordinates: 44.060127, -89.29084 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0601&lon=-89.2908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50658 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50658/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA035 ## Probable cause the deer that traveled onto the runway and contacted the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the night light conditions and the light snow that was falling. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - light condition - bright night (contributing factor) - object - animal(s) (cause) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command ## Analysis The airplane contacted a deer during landing. The pilot reported that he kept the nose wheel off the runway as long as possible after touchdown. As the nose was descending, he saw a deer on the runway approximately 50 to 60 feet in front of the airplane. He veered the airplane to the right to avoid hitting the deer with the propeller and the nose of the airplane. The deer panicked and ran back toward the airplane. The wing passed over the top of the deer; however, the deer contacted the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported the light conditions were bright night and light snow was falling which reduced his ability to see the deer on the runway. ## Factual narrative On November 17, 2000, at 1810 central standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N8027G, collided with a deer during a landing roll on runway 31 (3,300 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at the Wautoma Municipal Airport, Wautoma, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot and the one passenger on board were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the left stabilizer. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated from Marysville, Ohio, at 1500 eastern standard time. The pilot reported that he kept the nose wheel off the runway as long as possible after touchdown. He reported that as the nose was descending, he saw a deer on the runway approximately 50-60 feet in front of the airplane. He then veered the airplane to the right to avoid hitting the deer with the propeller and the nose of the airplane. The deer panicked and ran back toward the airplane. The wing passed over the top of the deer; however the deer contacted the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the light conditions at the time of the accident were bright night due to snow on the ground. He also reported that light snow was falling at the time of the accident, which reduced his ability to see the deer on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8027G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8027G), registered now, S/N 177RG0027, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0027 - Airframe hours: 2253 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Philip C. Whitford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2000 - Departed: I78, MARYSVILLE, OH - Destination: Y50 - Airport: Y50, Wautoma Municipal, runway 31, 3,300 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 856 total, 108 in this make and model, 760 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 20001117029959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001117029959A), Nov 17, 2000: Cessna 177RG, Wautoma, WI, No damage. (-23) Pilot reported that he made a normal landing on runway 31 at the Wautoma airport. After the nose came down he saw a deer approx. 50 feet in front of the… 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.