# NTSB NYC04CA022: Cessna 182M, N70800, Laytonsville, MD, November 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 1, 2003, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Laytonsville, MD - Coordinates: 39.244445, -77.148612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2444&lon=-77.1486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58277/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's abrupt evasive maneuver to avoid the deer, which resulted in the loss of airspeed and an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - animal(s) (contributing factor) - evasive maneuver - abrupt, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot was on final approach, with landing flaps, at a low altitude, transitioning to land when deer ran in front of the airplane. The pilot reported that he thought the airplane would strike the deer, and abruptly pulled back on the control wheel. He also added power; however, the pitch up preceded the engine responding. The pilot said the stall horn sounded momentarily, and then the airplane descended in a nose down attitude and struck the ground, about 150 feet short of the runway and slid for 100 feet. The nose landing gear collapsed, the lower fuselage was crushed, and the firewall was wrinkled. A witness reported that the final approach course brought the airplane over a corn field, where deer have been seen before. The landing distance chart from the Owner's manual revealed the airplane could have crossed the end of the runway at 50 feet, and still stopped within the remaining runway. ## Factual narrative On November 1, 2003, about 1715 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182M, N70800, was substantially damaged while landing at Davis Airport (W50), Laytonsville, Maryland. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which originated from Chester County Airport (40N), Coatsville, Pennsylvania. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident report, the pilot stated: "On final approach, as I was making the transition to the landing attitude, several deer ran directly in front of the plane. To avoid hitting the deer, I pushed the throttle to full power and raised the nose of the plane." "Immediately after raising the nose, the plane stalled, and hit the ground. After impact, I pulled the power back and continued to hold back pressure on the yoke until the plane came to a complete stop, approximately 50 from the runway." In a follow-up telephone interview, the pilot reported that he had selected landing flaps, his airspeed was 70 mph, and he was trying to land on or near to the approach end of the runway. The airplane struck the ground at the edge of the cornfield, and slid for about 100 feet, stopping about 50 feet from the approach end of the runway. As the airplane was sliding, the pilot observed another deer run from right to left, in front of the airplane. The pilot also reported that the nose landing gear was separated from the airplane, the firewall was wrinkled, and the lower fuselage aft of the firewall was crushed upward. A witness reported that deer are common around the airport, including the corn field which extends to within 150 feet of the approach end of the runway. In addition, a homeowner who lived nearby to the airport reported that immediately after the accident, he saw several deer running away from the vicinity of the accident site. According to FAA data, runway 26 was a combination turf/asphalt surface runway which was 2,050 feet long and 25 feet wide. According to the Cessna 182M Owner's Manual, at maximum gross weight, 2,800 pound, sea level, and 59 degrees F, the airplane would require a total distance of 1,350 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle and stop. This included a ground roll of 590 feet. At 2,500 feet, and a temperature of 50 degrees F, the total to clear a 50-foot obstacle and stop increased to 1,430 feet, and the ground roll increased to 640 feet. According to the chart, for dry grass runways, the total distance should be increased by 20 percent, for a total distance of 1,620 feet at sea level, or 1,7616 feet at 2,500 feet elevation. There was no compensation on the chart for non-standard temperatures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70800](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70800), registered now, S/N 18259367 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182M - Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18259367 - Airframe hours: 3445 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2003, 43 hours before - Departed: 40N, Coatsville, PA - Destination: W50, Laytonsville, MD - Airport: W50, Laytonsville, runway 26, 2,005 × 25 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 6, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 134 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FDK, 15 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 20031101035569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031101035569A), Nov 1, 2003: Cessna 182M, Laytonsville, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot of N70800 was flying un unstabilized approach to runway 26, a paved runway without significant obstacles at either end. The surface leading up… 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.