Probable cause
The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during landing.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor and student pilot were completing stop-and-go landings at night at an uncontrolled airport. During the second landing, a deer collided with the left rear fuselage and the empennage, then the airplane yawed left. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and taxied off the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN22LA136 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 4, 2022
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Pinckneyville, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Pinckneyville-Du Quoin (PJY)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 172P
- N-number
- N99104
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1985
- 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.