# NTSB IAD05CA124: Cessna 421C, N6159X, Readington, NJ, August 21, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 21, 2005, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Readington, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.58361, -74.735
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5836&lon=-74.7350&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62286
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05CA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62286/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05CA124

## Probable cause

An encounter with animals during the landing - flare/touchdown.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - animal(s) (cause)

## Analysis

As the airplane touched down, a "herd of deer" ran across the runway into the airplane's path.  The airplane struck 2 or 3 deer, then veered to the right, departing the runway surface.

## Factual narrative

On August 21, 2005, at 1915 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 421C, N6159X, was substantially damaged when it impacted several deer while landing at Solberg Airport (N51), Readington, New Jersey.  The certificated private pilot and 7 passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Lebanon Municipal Airport (LEB), Lebanon, New Hampshire, at 1745.  The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot described a routine flight, and said the airplane was performing "perfectly" as he approached the destination airport.   At the exact moment of touchdown to the runway, a "herd of deer" ran across the runway in the airplane's path.  The airplane struck 2 or 3 deer, then veered to the right and departed the runway surface.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the scene.  According to the inspector, two of the deer remained on the runway, and evidence of their collision with the airplane remained on the aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6159X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6159X-2007-02-12), registration cancelled 2007-02-12, S/N 421C0894 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 421C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 894
- Engines: Continental GTSIO-520L reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: G. Robert Marcus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LEB, LEBANON, NH
- Destination: N51, Readington, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,877 total, 700 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20050821018259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050821018259A), Aug 21, 2005: Cessna 421C, Readington, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was landing on runway 22 at the Solberg airport (N51), Readington, NJ, when he struck a number of deer on the runway. Aircraft sustained…

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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