Cirrus Design Corp. SR-20 accident near Point Pleasant, West Virginia, October 15, 2002
On October 15, 2002 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR-20, registered N137CD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Point Pleasant, West Virginia (Mason County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadvertent collision with wildlife. A factor in the accident was wildlife having access to the runway environment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2002 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Point Pleasant, West Virginia · Mason County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design Corp. SR-20
- Registration
- N137CD · registry record · serial 1028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach, the pilot spotted four deer on the runway, so he adjusted his approach to land beyond them. As the airplane touchdown 700 to 1,000 feet past the deer, the pilot spotted three more deer crossing the runway. The pilot added power, and pitched the nose of the airplane up. Two of the deer impacted the airplane. One went under the cockpit, and the other impacted the right wing. The airplane became airborne, spun to the right, and the pilot pitched the nose down. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, impacted a line of trees, and came to rest upright.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 109 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 787 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2002; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JYO Leesburg VA at 7:40 pm
- Destination: 3I2 Point Pleasant WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from HTS, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.