Probable cause
The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during takeoff at night.
NTSB analysis
The pilot had just completed a full stop landing at night. During the subsequent takeoff roll, a deer collided with the left side of the airplane and became entangled in the wing strut. After the collision, the pilot stopped the airplane on the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20LA429 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 30, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Higginsville, Missouri
- Nearest airport
- Higginsville Industrial Munici (KHIG)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N461CM
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.