# NTSB GAA16CA304: Cessna 120, N77216, Climax, NC, June 10, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2016, 13:49 local (17:49 UTC)
- Place: Climax, NC
- Coordinates: 35.942222, -79.685554 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9422&lon=-79.6856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93370
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA304
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93370/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93370
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA304

## Probable cause

An evasive maneuver during the landing roll to avoid deer on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an airport perimeter fence.

## 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 · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 359 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 120, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 2,289 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that following a day visual meteorological condition flight, during the landing roll, two deer jumped onto the runway and he swerved the airplane to the right off of the runway, avoiding both deer. During the runway excursion, the right main landing gear became caught in tall grass and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and both wings. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview with the airport manager, he reported that the airport does not a have a perimeter fence.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that following a day visual meteorological condition flight, during the landing roll, two deer jumped onto the runway and he swerved the airplane to the right off of the runway, avoiding both deer. During the runway excursion, the right main landing gear became caught in tall grass and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and both wings. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview with the airport manager, he reported that the airport does not a have a perimeter fence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77216](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77216-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 11678, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11678
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 2156.54
- Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2015
- Departed: SCR, SILER CITY, NC
- Destination: 3A4, Climax, NC
- Airport: 3A4, Southeast Greensboro, runway 17, 3,063 × 30 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2015; seat: left; flight hours: 142 total, 67 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KBUY, 12 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 20160610010749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160610010749A), Jun 10, 2016: Cessna 120, Climax, NC, Substantial damage. The CE-120 was at approximately 1/3 of the way down from the north end of runway 17. It was upside down with the nose pointing north approximately 5 feet from…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93370. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Airport Manager) (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Airport%20Manager)-Master.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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