# NTSB ERA25LA078: Cessna 172, N885GT, Jefferson, GA, December 12, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 11, 2024, 20:00 local (Dec 12, 2024, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Jefferson, GA · Airport runway
- Coordinates: 34.17535, -83.561362 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1754&lon=-83.5614&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199429
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199429/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199429
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA078

## Probable cause

The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during landing.

## 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 172S, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072439), [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.

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor stated that after completion of a night practice instrument approach, they continued to the runway to perform a touch-and-go landing. As the main landing gear touched down on the runway, three deer ran in front of the airplane. The flight crew aborted the landing and then heard a loud “bang” when the airplane’s nose landing gear struck one of the deer as the airplane ascended. The underside of the fuselage was substantially damaged as a result of the collision. The pilot continued the departure, notified air traffic control, and landed at an alternate airport without further incident. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N885GT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N885GT), registered now, S/N 172S9601, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9601
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 9933.7
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Yellow Jacket Flying Club Inc
- Registered owner: Yellow Jacket Flying Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2024, 20 hours before
- Departed: PDK, Atlanta, GA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: JCA, Jackson County, runway 35, 5,010 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 158 total, 158 in this make and model, 98 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days
- Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 396 total, 374 in this make and model, 361 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: GVL, 15 nm away
- METAR: KGVL 120053Z AUTO 27007KT 10SM CLR 04/M04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP209 T00391039

## 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 20241211021169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241211021169A), Dec 11, 2024: Cessna 172S, Gainesville, GA, Substantial damage. While conducting instrument approach into jca after the main wheels touched down on runway, 3 deer were observed running perpendicular to runway close to front…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199429. 4.4 MB in all.

- NTSB 6120 1 form (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18482282&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18482780&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.

---
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.