# NTSB NYC87LA248: Cessna 150J, N51085, Brookline, NH, September 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1987, 20:25 local (Sep 14, 1987, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Brookline, NH
- Location: 42.7418° N, 71.7076° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BROOKLINE (NH16), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7418&lon=-71.7076&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 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30732
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA248
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30732/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA248

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - animal(s) (cause)
  - maneuver - intentional, pilot in command
  - object - approach light/navaid (cause)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND AT NIGHT, THE PILOT SAW DEER ON THE RUNWAY THAT WERE FACING HIS DIRECTION AND MOVING TO THE RIGHT. HE DIDN'T SEE THE DEER UNTIL HE HAD REACHED A POINT WERE A GO-AROUND WOULD BE UNSAFE FOR THIS RUNWAY. IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID THE DEER, HE SLIPPED THE ACFT TO THE LEFT. ALTHOUGH HE HAD BEEN USING THE VASI LIGHTS & WAS AWARE OF THEIR POSITION, THE ACFT'S LEFT MAIN GEAR & WING STRUT HIT THE VASI LIGHT STRUCTURE & CARRIED IT INTO A AUTO WHICH WAS PARKED JUST BEYOND. THE ACFT THEN CONTINUED ANOTHER 50 FT AND NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51085](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51085-1990-08-31), registration cancelled 1990-08-31, S/N 15069753 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15069753
- Airframe hours: 5235
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fred J. T. Dow
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1986
- Departed: NH16
- Airport: NH16, Brookline, runway 19, 2,000 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 991 total, 426 in this make and model, 421 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19870913051729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870913051729A), Sep 13, 1987: Cessna 150J, Brookline, NH, Destroyed. Runway blocked by deer. Hit VASI light trying to avoid deer.VASI light hit vehicle. Aircraft nosed over in soft mud.

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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