# NTSB GAA16CA396: Cessna 150, N18228, Williamsburg, VA, July 27, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2016, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Williamsburg, VA - Coordinates: 37.239444, -76.716392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2394&lon=-76.7164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93699 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA396 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93699/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93699 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA396 ## Probable cause An evasive maneuver during the landing flare to avoid deer on the runway, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain during a go-around. 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 · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2071826), [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 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that during a day visual meteorological condition flight, in the landing flare he saw a deer where he intended to touch down. He further reported that he banked to the right and applied power to go-around, but during the turn to the right he was unable to clear a line of trees in his flight path. The student pilot reported that the landing gear "scraped" one line of trees, and in order to avoid a thicker line of trees ahead, he forced the airplane down into a marsh area. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview with an airport representative, he reported that the airport does not a have a perimeter fence. The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement airport page for the accident airport in part states: "Deer and birds on and invof [in the vicinity of] arpt." ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that during a day visual meteorological condition flight, in the landing flare he saw a deer where he intended to touch down. He further reported that he banked to the right and applied power to go-around, but during the turn to the right he was unable to clear a line of trees in his flight path. The student pilot reported that the landing gear "scraped" one line of trees, and in order to avoid a thicker line of trees ahead, he forced the airplane down into a marsh area. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview with an airport representative, he reported that the airport does not a have a perimeter fence. The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement airport page for the accident airport in part states: "Deer and birds on and invof [in the vicinity of] arpt." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18228](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18228-2017-02-06), registration cancelled 2017-02-06, S/N 15073881 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15073881 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 1, 2015 - Departed: JGG, Williamsburg, VA - Destination: JGG, Williamsburg, VA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: JGG, Williamsburg-Jamestown, runway 31, 3,204 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KJGG ## 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 20160727011619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160727011619A), Jul 27, 2016: Cessna 150L, Williamsburg, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot was touching down for the last landing of his first solo flight. After touch down a deer ran onto the runway. The pilot had already began applying… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93699. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444021&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Airport Employee) (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Airport%20Employee)-Master.PDF - Airport KJGG Chart Supplement page (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444023&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20KJGG%20Chart%20Supplement%20page-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- 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.