Cessna 150 accident near Carrollton, Ohio, October 24, 2012
On October 24, 2012 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N5978E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Carrollton, Ohio (Carroll County-Tolson Airport). It was a personal 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 airplane’s collision with two deer during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2012 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Ohio · Carroll County-Tolson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N5978E · no longer on the register · serial 17478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, two deer ran out onto the runway. The propeller struck one deer and the second deer was struck by the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot was able to maintain control of the airplane and taxied back to the ramp without further incident. The empennage was twisted and partially separated at the aft bulkhead and the right horizontal stabilizer was crushed aft and bent up. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane before the impact.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 316 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 2 in the last 30 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 2, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,752.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 2012; 8.5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTSO Carrollton OH at 11:20 pm
- Destination: KACK Akron OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,297 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KPHD, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.