# NTSB NYC04CA076: Cessna 172N, N738EK, Youngstown, OH, February 23, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 23, 2004, 17:56 local (22:56 UTC)
- Place: Youngstown, OH
- Coordinates: 40.961666, -80.677223
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9617&lon=-80.6772&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA076

## Probable cause

An inadvertent collision with a deer while landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - animal(s) (cause)

## Analysis

During the landing flare, the student pilot felt an impact on the right side of the empennage.  The student pilot looked back and observed that the airplane had struck a deer, which resulted in substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.  The student pilot then taxied the airplane uneventfully to the ramp area.

## Factual narrative

On February 23, 2004, at 1756 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N738EK, was substantially damaged while landing at Youngstown Elser Metro Airport (4G4), Youngstown, Ohio.  The certificated student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The student pilot reported that she was landing on runway 10, a 4,012-foot long, 50-foot wide, asphalt runway.  During the flare, she felt an impact on the right side of the empennage.  The student pilot looked back and observed that the airplane had struck a deer.  The student pilot then taxied the airplane uneventfully to the ramp area.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N738EK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738EK-2012-04-05), registration cancelled 2012-04-05, S/N 17269918, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269918
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Crosswind Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 4G4, Youngstown, OH
- Destination: 4G4
- Airport: 4G4, Youngstown Elser Metro Airport, runway 10, 4,012 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F

## 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 20040223003569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040223003569A), Feb 23, 2004: Cessna 172N, Youngstown, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot statement attached. We inspected aircraft at Elser airport and found the following: 1) right flap bent - probable initial impact with deer. 2)…

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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