Cessna 172 accident near Jefferson, Georgia, December 12, 2024
On December 12, 2024 at about 1:00 am local time, a 2004 Cessna 172, registered N885GT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Jefferson, Georgia (Jackson County 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 airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 2024 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Jefferson, Georgia · Jackson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2004 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N885GT · registry record · serial 172S9601
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that after completion of a night practice instrument approach, they continued to the runway to perform a touch-and-go landing. As the main landing gear touched down on the runway, three deer ran in front of the airplane. The flight crew aborted the landing and then heard a loud “bang” when the airplane’s nose landing gear struck one of the deer as the airplane ascended. The underside of the fuselage was substantially damaged as a result of the collision. The pilot continued the departure, notified air traffic control, and landed at an alternate airport without further incident. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 158 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 98 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 19, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 396 hours in all; 374 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 361 as pilot in command; 35 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 25, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,933.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 2024; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 10,885 hours total
- Operator: Yellow Jacket Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,010 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from GVL, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGVL 120053Z AUTO 27007KT 10SM CLR 04/M04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP209 T00391039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 3, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB 6120 1 Form | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.