NTSB LAX91LA350 — 1991-08-08 · GRAND CANYON, Arizona, United States

N161TA has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNA P-MENTOR), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N161TA Cessna 402C None

Probable cause & findings

THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPORT OPERATOR TO DEVELOP ANIMAL CONTROL PROCEDURES FOR THE AIRPORT PROPERTY.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT SAID HE WAS NEAR ROTATION SPEED ON THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL WHEN AN ELK SUDDENLY RAN ONTO THE RUNWAY IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE ANIMAL. THE GRAND CANYON AIRPORT IS IN A HEAVILY FORESTED MOUNTAIN AREA. THERE ARE NO FENCES WHICH SURROUND THE AIRPORT COMPLEX. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA350.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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