No fatalities

Aircraft Noses Over After Swerving to Avoid Deer During Landing Roll

Climax, NC, United States

On June 10, 2016, a CESSNA 120 NO SERIES was involved in an aviation accident near Climax, NC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An evasive maneuver during the landing roll to avoid deer on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an airport perimeter fence. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During landing roll, pilot swerved to avoid two deer, causing runway excursion. Right main landing gear caught in grass, nosed over. Substantial damage reported.

Incident Summary

Following a day visual meteorological condition flight, the pilot reported that during the landing roll, two deer jumped onto the runway. The pilot swerved the airplane to the right off the runway, successfully avoiding both deer. During the ensuing runway excursion, the right main landing gear became caught in tall grass, causing the airplane to nose over.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and both wings.

Additional Information

The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview with the airport manager, he reported that the airport does not have a perimeter fence.

Contributing factors

Causes

Response/compensation

Other contributing factors

Effect on operationContributed to outcomePilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 10 Jun 2016 CESSNA 120 NO SERIES accident near Climax, NC?

During landing roll, pilot swerved to avoid two deer, causing runway excursion. Right main landing gear caught in grass, nosed over. Substantial damage reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 10 Jun 2016 CESSNA 120 NO SERIES accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 10 Jun 2016 involved a CESSNA 120 NO SERIES, at Climax, NC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

An evasive maneuver during the landing roll to avoid deer on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an airport perimeter fence.