Probable cause
The airplane’s impact with deer while landing.
NTSB analysis
Before landing, the pilot and flight instructor performed a mid-field transition over the runway and no wildlife were visible. The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during the landing roll on the runway, two deer impacted the airplane’s right forward fuselage and propeller. They maneuvered the airplane off the runway without further incident.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The airport manager/owner reported that since the airport was built 15 years ago, this was the first wildlife encounter with an aircraft. He stated that the airport did not have a perimeter fence.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN21LA003 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 3, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hinckley, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Field Of Dreams Airport (04W)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N4972G
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1979
- 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.