# NTSB CEN22LA441: Piper PA-28-180, N5152S, Shell Lake, WI, September 29, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 28, 2022, 19:00 local (Sep 29, 2022, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Shell Lake, WI
- Coordinates: 45.4388, -91.5524 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4388&lon=-91.5524&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106225
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA441
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106225/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106225
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA441

## Probable cause

A collision with a deer during landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing flare at night, the airplane’s left wing stuck a deer that was on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5152S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5152S), registered now, S/N 28-7105006, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7105006
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 5942.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Air Trek North, doing business as Air Trek North
- Registered owner: Harrier Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 10, 2022
- Departed: 1H9, Spooner, WI
- Destination: KSSQ, Shell Lake, WI
- Airport: KSSQ, Shell Lake Municipal, runway 14, 3,711 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 648 total, 564 in this make and model, 593 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observed at: KRZN, 19 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRZN 290015Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/04 A3044 RMK AO2 T00900044=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20220928017279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220928017279A), Sep 28, 2022: Piper PA-28-180, Shell Lake, WI, Substantial damage. 09-28-2022 [privacy data omitted] struck a deer while landing at Shell Lake WI. During the flare on landing the aircraft struck a deer with the left wing.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106225. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14684747&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Saito_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 934 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14684417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Airplane%20-%20Deer-Rel.pdf
- GPS track (plot) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14751641&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Airplane%20Fore%20Flight%20Track-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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