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NTSB Report

August 28, 2012 · Cessna 172 N · N3082E

Sand Point, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Sand Point, ID
Aircraft
Cessna 172 N
Tail Number
N3082E
Operator
Silverwing Flight Services
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR12CA375

The flight instructor and the student pilot had conducted a night visual flight rules instructional flight and were returning to their home base, a nontower-controlled airport. The student pilot set the airplane up for landing, and, according to the flight instructor, they looked carefully but did not see any wildlife on or near the runway throughout the approach and flare. However, during the flare, a deer ran onto the left side of the runway and collided with the airplane’s left horizontal stabilizer. The pilots maintained control of the airplane, and the subsequent touchdown and landing roll were uneventful. The airplane’s stabilizer was substantially damaged. According to the flight instructor, this was the third deer strike at that airport in as many years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport/Facility Directory stated that wildlife was present on and in the vicinity of the airport, and the flight instructor reported that a similar message was normally contained in the airport's automated weather observing system radio broadcast. Postaccident discussions with the airport manager and FAA personnel revealed that deer are a known problem at the airport, and that efforts are underway to approve, fund, and install an airport perimeter fence no sooner than fall 2014. Discussions with United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Management Division personnel revealed that the agency’s local office was willing and able to provide direct technical assistance to the airport to explore and implement deer hazard mitigation strategies in the interim.

NTSB Probable Cause

A deer strike during the landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the airport’s lack of any deer incursion prevention measures, such as an airport perimeter fence.

Full Narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot had conducted a night visual flight rules instructional flight and were returning to their home, non-towered airport. The student pilot set up for landing on runway 1, and according to the CFI, they looked carefully for wildlife on and near the runway throughout the approach and flare, and did not observe any. During the flare, a deer ran onto the runway from the grass adjacent to the left runway edge, and struck or was struck by the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilots maintained control of the airplane, and the touchdown and rollout were uneventful. The stabilizer was substantially damaged, and the pilots were uninjured. According to the CFI, this was the third deer strike at that airport in as many years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport/Facility Directory stated that wildlife was present on and in the vicinity of the airport, and the CFI reported that a similar message was normally contained in the airport's AWOS (automated weather observing system) radio broadcast. NTSB discussions with the airport manager and personnel from the FAA revealed that deer are a known problem at the airport, and that efforts are underway to approve, fund, and install an airport perimeter fence no sooner than approximately fall 2014. Discussions with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Management Division personnel revealed that the local office of the USDA was willing and able to provide direct technical assistance to the airport to explore and implement deer hazard mitigation strategies in the interim.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:45 PDT
Nearest AirportSandpoint (0nm)
Runway01
Runway Length5500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172 N
Tail NumberN3082E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSilverwing Flight Services
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 63 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 18 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time03:20
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data