NTSB CEN21LA003 — 2020-10-03 · Hinckley, Minnesota, United States

Current FAA registration · N4972G

Make / Model: CESSNA 172N
Year of manufacture: 1979 · 41 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19791114
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A62CBE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N4972G Cessna 172 None

Probable cause & findings

The airplane’s impact with deer while landing.

Factual narrative

Before landing, the pilot and flight instructor performed a mid-field transition over the runway and no wildlife were visible. The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during the landing roll on the runway, two deer impacted the airplane’s right forward fuselage and propeller. They maneuvered the airplane off the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport manager/owner reported that since the airport was built 15 years ago, this was the first wildlife encounter with an aircraft. He stated that the airport did not have a perimeter fence. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Contributed to outcome
— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Ability to respond/compensate

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_CEN21LA003.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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