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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 1, 2003 · Cessna 182M · N70800

Laytonsville, MD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 1, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Laytonsville, MD
Aircraft
Cessna 182M
Tail Number
N70800
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC04CA022

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's abrupt evasive maneuver to avoid the deer, which resulted in the loss of airspeed and an inadvertent stall.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:15 EST
Nearest AirportLaytonsville (0nm)
Runway26
Runway Length2005 ft
Runway Width25 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182M
Tail NumberN70800
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-R · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 59
Altimeter30.20 inHg
Observation Time22:22
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data