Converse County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Douglas, Wyoming 82633
Friday, September 11, 1998 5:58 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was taking off from Converse County Airport's runway 28 (6,750 feet x 100 feet, asphalt) in the predawn darkness, en route to Casper, Wyoming, about 47 miles to the west. As the airplane lifted off the runway, a small deer (weighing an estimated 75 pounds) struck the rear of the airplane. Because the airplane remained under control at all times, the pilot elected to continue to Casper, where he landed without incident. Examination of the airplane disclosed the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer was crushed inward and bent.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A collision with a deer during take-off.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 558
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City DOUGLAS
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82633
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CONVERSE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DGW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4929
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 553 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DGW
Elevation of weather observation facility 4929
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5514
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 555
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 11 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4612U
NTSB Number FTW98LA391
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180F
Aircraft Series Identifier 180F
Aircraft Serial Number 18051312
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 16 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 2668
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT W. DUNCAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 944
Aircraft Owner City DOUGLAS
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82633
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DGW
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 558
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CPR
Destination City CASPER
Destination State WY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 6750
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --