Schafer (Usfs) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Essex, Montana 59901
Saturday, July 5, 2003 10:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the Cessna T210M arrived overhead the 3,200-foot long turf USFS mountain airstrip and conducted an overflight verifying that the runway was clear of objects and wildlife. He then commenced an approach which he reported was "a little long but manageable." After touchdown, and while rolling at 45 knots, the pilot observed a deer enter the runway environment from the right. As he was concerned that the deer would cross in front of the aircraft before the aircraft's speed could be adequately reduced, he applied full power and aborted the landing. The pilot and three passengers felt a "thump" and the pilot continued the climb out leaving the gear extended diverting to Missoula, Montana. The most recent Airport Master Record (FAA Form 5010-1) contained an advisory in the remarks section regarding wildlife on the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The unexpected transit of a deer across the runway which impacted the aircraft during the pilot's aborted landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Essex
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59901
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480446N
Event Location Longitude 1131441W
Event Location Airport Schafer (USFS)
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8U2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4855
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 856 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 43
Weather Observation Facility ID FCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 2972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 270
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15026
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 7 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N761QN
NTSB Number SEA03LA130
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T210M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21062435
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Corpat, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 16210
Aircraft Owner City Missoula
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59808
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Wilcox, Andrew R.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Missoula
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59808
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code 23S
Departure City Seeley Lake
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 8U2
Destination City Schafer USFS
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 26 2003 12:49PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --