Miller - Sparta Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sparta, Michigan 49345
Friday, October 1, 2010 21:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Just after the airplane lifted off the runway surface during the night takeoff, the pilot observed two deer crossing the runway from left to right. He stated that one deer was in front of him and the other was to the left of his path. He pulled back on the yoke in an attempt to avoid the deer at which time he heard a loud "bang." The pilot reported that he missed the deer that he observed and contacted a third deer that he did not see. The pilot continued the flight to his destination where he made an uneventful landing. The injured deer was located at the departure airport. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An inadvertent collision with a deer during a night takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/1/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sparta
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49345
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432738N
Event Location Longitude 0854042W
Event Location Airport Miller - Sparta Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8D4
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 775
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 2053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 155
Weather Observation Facility ID GRR
Elevation of weather observation facility 794
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27708
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2010 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N759BJ
NTSB Number CEN11CA025
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182Q
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18265860
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 5 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 4596
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MOHAWK FLYING CLUB INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2200 ROLLING HILL SE
Aircraft Owner City GRAND RAPIDS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49546
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Kenneth A. Thompson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Caledonia
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49316
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 8D4
Departure City Sparta
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GRR
Destination City Grand Rapids
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 19 2010 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record rows
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 4033
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --