# NTSB DEN00LA026: Cessna 421C, N3912C, Gillette, WY, December 11, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1999, 17:30 local (Dec 11, 1999, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Gillette, WY
- Coordinates: 44.460868, -105.70082 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4609&lon=-105.7008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48349/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA026

## Probable cause

The collision with a deer on the runway during a night landing.  A factor was the dark night.

## 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
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - animal(s) (cause)

## Analysis

During landing roll, after conducting a visual approach during dark night conditions, the airplane struck a deer on the runway.  No preventative measures had been taken by the airport authority, other than listing as an obstruction the possibility of deer and antelope on the runway.

## Factual narrative

On December 10, 1999, at 1730 mountain standard time, a Cessna 421C, N3912C, operated by Flight Line Aviation as an on demand air taxi, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a deer during landing roll at Campbell County Airport, Gillette, Wyoming.  The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured.  Dark night visual conditions prevailed for this charter flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 135 and an IFR flight plan was filed.  The flight departed Rapid City, South Dakota, at 1645.

According to the pilot, shortly after touchdown during landing roll, four deer appeared on the runway crossing from right to left.  One deer collided with the right forward portion of the fuselage and right propeller.  Both hull and propeller damage resulted.

Published airport information lists deer and antelope as possible obstructions.   There is no anti deer or antelope fencing or other game discouragement devices.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3912C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3912C-2018-08-13), registration cancelled 2018-08-13, S/N 421C0139, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 421C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSI0-520-F-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (registry code 17031, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421C-0139
- Airframe hours: 5271
- Engines: Continental GTSIO520L 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Flight Line Incorporated, doing business as Flight Line Aviation
- Registered owner: Business Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 1999, 41 hours before
- Departed: RAP, RAPID CITY, SD
- Destination: GCC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GCC, Campbell County, runway 16, 7,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 85 in this make and model, 1,770 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCC, 1 nm away

## 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 19991210044789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991210044789A), Dec 10, 1999: Cessna 421C, Gillette, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) A/c hit deer on landing roll (.4) during landing roll, after conducting a visual approach during dark night conditions, the airplane struck a deer on 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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