Probable cause
An inadvertent collision with a deer during a night takeoff.
NTSB analysis
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.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA025 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 2, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Sparta, Michigan
- Nearest airport
- Miller - Sparta Airport (8D4)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 182Q
- N-number
- N759BJ
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.