Cessna C152 accident near Bridgeport, West Virginia, October 20, 1990
On October 20, 1990 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna C152, registered N757RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, West Virginia (Benedum airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH DEER WHICH HAD MOVED ONTO THE RUNWAY DURING THEIR TAKEOFF ROLL. THE DARK NIGHT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT BY LIMITING THE PILOTS' VISUAL OUTLOOK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1990 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, West Virginia · Benedum · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C152
- Registration
- N757RM · no longer on the register · serial 15279944
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND DUAL STUDENT WERE DEPARTING ON A LOCAL NIGHT FLIGHT, WHEN THE TOWER INFORMED THEM ABOUT SEVERAL DEER WALKING ON THE AIRPORT. THE CFI STATED THAT A LANDING AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLEAR, SO THEY TAXIED INTO POSITION FOR TAKEOFF. THE CFI REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED ROTATION SPEED, THE PILOTS NOTICED TWO DEER ON THE RUNWAY IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CFI REDUCED POWER AND VEERED RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE COLLISION, BUT THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ONE OF THE DEER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 310 in the last 90 days; 1,010 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,389 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 17, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.