# NTSB CHI06CA179: Aviat A-1, N70HU, Watervliet, MI, July 6, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2006, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Watervliet, MI
- Coordinates: 42.193611, -86.260276
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1936&lon=-86.2603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64253
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64253/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA179

## Probable cause

The presence of the deer on the runway which resulted in the pilot taking evasive action leading to the nose-over.  A factor was the excessive braking by the pilot.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - evasive maneuver - attempted, pilot in command
  - object - animal(s) (cause)
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The airplane was damaged when it nosed over during landing on a private grass airstrip.  In a telephone conversation, the pilot said that he was landing at the private strip to give a ride to a person.  He stated that he performed a flyby of the airstrip to check the condition of the strip and then entered a normal traffic pattern.  He stated that he touched down "very early on the runway" and while rolling out, a deer came onto the runway from an adjacent field.  He stated that he applied the brakes when he saw the deer and the airplane flipped over onto its back.  He stated that there were no problems with the airplane.  He estimated that the runway was 800 feet long and 75 feet wide.

## Factual narrative

The airplane was damaged when it nosed over during landing on a private grass airstrip.  In a telephone conversation, the pilot said that he was landing at the private strip to give a ride to a person.  He stated that he performed a flyby of the airstrip to check the condition of the strip and then entered a normal traffic pattern.  He stated that he touched down "very early on the runway" and while rolling out, a deer came onto the runway from an adjacent field.  He stated that he applied the brakes when he saw the deer and the airplane flipped over onto its back.  He stated that there were no problems with the airplane.  He estimated that the runway was 800 feet long and 75 feet wide.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70HU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70HU), registered now, S/N 1322, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aviat A-1
- Registry model: [Aviat A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (registry code 2210400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1322
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: C91, DOWAGIAC, MI
- Destination: Watervliet, MI
- Airport: PVT, Private, runway 09

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 850 total, 25 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20060706029969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060706029969A), Jul 6, 2006: Chris A1, Watervliet, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was landing on a Private airstrip when a deer appeared in the runway area. Hard braking coupled with an uneven runway surface led to 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.

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