Cessna 310R accident near Onaway, Michigan, October 9, 2013
On October 9, 2013 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 310R, registered N9757N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Onaway, Michigan (Leo E. Goetz County 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
An inadvertent collision with a deer during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2013 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Onaway, Michigan · Leo E. Goetz County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R, built 1979 · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9757N · no longer on the register · serial 310R1639
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was landing at a non-towered airport at night to drop off a passenger. During the landing flare just prior to touchdown, the pilot saw three deer run onto the runway out of his periphery. One of the deer ran on to the runway and was struck by the airplane's left main landing gear. The collision folded the left main gear aft and the left wing contacted the runway as the airplane touched down. The airplane slid down the runway and veered off the left side of the runway surface before coming to rest. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing and aileron.
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
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Contributed to outcome
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: 8,240 hours in all; 854 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 8,116 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 19, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,551 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 5,501 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-BB (piston); 104 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-BB (piston); 104 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OEB Coldwater MI at 9:45 pm
- Destination: Y96 Onaway MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KPZQ, 18 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.