# NTSB GAA17CA079: Cessna 172, N4331R, Dayton, TN, November 20, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 20, 2016, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Dayton, TN - Coordinates: 35.48611, -84.931114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4861&lon=-84.9311&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94431 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94431/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94431 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA079 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inability to maintain pitch and bank control during the landing after the airplane was struck by a deer. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [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 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072418), [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-flare/touchdown: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, the single-engine airplane was configured in a crab profile during the landing. After the flare, the airplane settled into ground effect and a deer then approached the airplane from the left and struck the left main landing gear. The pilot initiated a go-around, but the left wing struck the ground. The airplane landed hard on the nose landing gear, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid to a stop after exiting the runway to the right. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The airport facility directory stated that deer were present on and near the airport. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, the single engine airplane was configured in a crab profile during the landing. After the flare, the airplane settled into ground effect and was struck by a deer. The student pilot reported that the deer approached from the left and struck the left main landing gear. He initiated a go-around, but the left wing struck the ground. The airplane landed hard on the nose landing gear, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop after exiting the runway to the right. Substantial damage was sustained to the firewall. The airport facility directory states that deer are present on, and in the vicinity of the airport. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4331R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4331R), registered now, S/N 17263084, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263084 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 3696.8 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Consolidated Aviation Services LLC - Registered owner: Consolidated Aviation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2016 - Departed: DKX, KNOXVILLE, TN - Destination: 2A0, Dayton, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 2A0, Mark Anton, runway 21, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 59.5 total, 44 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: MMI, 19 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 20161120023359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161120023359A), Nov 20, 2016: Cessna 172M, Dayton, TN, Substantial damage. At approximately 1950 zulu, on November 20, 2016, inspector henkel received a phone call from the FAA?s regional operation center (roc) notifying him of an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94431. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.