Cessna 172B accident near Shellman Bluff, Georgia, September 8, 2013
On September 8, 2013 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 1960 Cessna 172B, registered N7619X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Shellman Bluff, Georgia (Eagle Neck airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- September 8, 2013 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Shellman Bluff, Georgia · Eagle Neck · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B, built 1960 · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7619X · registry record · serial 17248119
- 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 private airport after a cross-country flight. During the landing flare, just prior to touchdown, a small deer ran onto the runway toward the airplane. The pilot increased engine power and attempted to climb; however, the deer struck and substantially damaged the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reduced engine power and subsequently landed on the runway without further incident. The pilot indicated that he did not experience any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 797 hours in all; 735 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 762 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 27, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,662 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2012; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-300 SER (piston); 3,662 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 1GA0 Shellman Bluff GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,527 ft by 41 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 pm from KLHW, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.