NTSB Factual Report

On November 1, 2003, about 1715 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182M, N70800, was substantially damaged while landing at Davis Airport (W50), Laytonsville, Maryland. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which originated from Chester County Airport (40N), Coatsville, Pennsylvania. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Accident report, the pilot stated:

"On final approach, as I was making the transition to the landing attitude, several deer ran directly in front of the plane. To avoid hitting the deer, I pushed the throttle to full power and raised the nose of the plane."

"Immediately after raising the nose, the plane stalled, and hit the ground. After impact, I pulled the power back and continued to hold back pressure on the yoke until the plane came to a complete stop, approximately 50 from the runway."

In a follow-up telephone interview, the pilot reported that he had selected landing flaps, his airspeed was 70 mph, and he was trying to land on or near to the approach end of the runway. The airplane struck the ground at the edge of the cornfield, and slid for about 100 feet, stopping about 50 feet from the approach end of the runway. As the airplane was sliding, the pilot observed another deer run from right to left, in front of the airplane. The pilot also reported that the nose landing gear was separated from the airplane, the firewall was wrinkled, and the lower fuselage aft of the firewall was crushed upward.

A witness reported that deer are common around the airport, including the corn field which extends to within 150 feet of the approach end of the runway. In addition, a homeowner who lived nearby to the airport reported that immediately after the accident, he saw several deer running away from the vicinity of the accident site.

According to FAA data, runway 26 was a combination turf/asphalt surface runway which was 2,050 feet long and 25 feet wide.

According to the Cessna 182M Owner's Manual, at maximum gross weight, 2,800 pound, sea level, and 59 degrees F, the airplane would require a total distance of 1,350 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle and stop. This included a ground roll of 590 feet. At 2,500 feet, and a temperature of 50 degrees F, the total to clear a 50-foot obstacle and stop increased to 1,430 feet, and the ground roll increased to 640 feet. According to the chart, for dry grass runways, the total distance should be increased by 20 percent, for a total distance of 1,620 feet at sea level, or 1,7616 feet at 2,500 feet elevation. There was no compensation on the chart for non-standard temperatures.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's abrupt evasive maneuver to avoid the deer, which resulted in the loss of airspeed and an inadvertent stall.