Murray Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eureka, California 95501
Sunday, January 1, 2012 16:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he noticed a deer (or possibly several deer) move onto the runway. In response, he added power and attempted to maneuver away from the animal(s). The airplane impacted what he believed to be a deer. The pilot realized that the airplane had likely incurred damage that could hinder further flight, so he retarded the engine power and landed without further incident. The left wing sustained substantial damage to the leading edge. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facilities Directory for the airport contained a note stating that there are deer occasionally on the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A collision with a deer while landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/1/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Eureka
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95501
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404812N
Event Location Longitude 1240646W
Event Location Airport Murray Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EKA
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 29745
NTSB Notification Source FAA OAK FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2012 8:36PM
User who most recently changed record snyg
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45WM
NTSB Number WPR12CA073
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 MCADAM W E
Aircraft Model CHRISTEN EAGLE II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number MCADAM-0001
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RUSSELL L MARSH
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ARCATA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95518-4663
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name RUSSELL L MARSH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ARCATA
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95518-4663
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code EKA
Departure City Eureka
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code EKA
Destination City Eureka
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 27 2012 5:57PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --