# NTSB CHI02LA073: Piper PA-32-300, N56729, Falls City, NE, January 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2002, 21:30 local (Jan 29, 2002, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Falls City, NE - Coordinates: 40.078609, -95.591941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0786&lon=-95.5919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA073 ## Probable cause The deer striking the airplane during landing. A factor relating to this accident was the dark night. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - animal(s) (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said they were in the landing flare and the main landing gear had touched down when he heard a loud bang and the airplane swerved right and then left. The pilot regained control of the airplane and taxied to parking. The pilot said that later he went out to the runway and found a 200 pound buck deer laying on the left side of the runway. An examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. No other anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2002, at 2130 central standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N56729, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage when a deer struck the airplane's right wing during landing on runway 32 (4,000 feet by 60 feet, dry asphalt) at Brenner Field (FNB), Falls City, Nebraska. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted without a flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and two passengers on board the airplane reported no injuries. The deer was fatally injured. The cross country flight originated at Atlantic, Iowa, and was en route to Falls City, Nebraska. In his written statement, the pilot said they were in the flare and the main landing gear had touched down when he heard a loud bang and the airplane swerved right and then left. The pilot regained control of the airplane and taxied to parking. The pilot said that later he went out to the runway and found a 200 pound buck deer laying on the left side of the runway. A FAA designated Airframe and Powerplant mechanic examined the airplane at FNB. The mechanic said that the center of the right wing where the metal fuel tank was located was broken open. The wing ribs in the area of the impact were crushed aft. The main spar, aft of the fuel tank, was bent aft. The right main landing gear skirt was broken aft. The gear leg was bent outward slightly. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56729](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56729-2007-07-09), registration cancelled 2007-07-09, S/N 32-7440022, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7440022 - Airframe hours: 3200 - Engines: Lycoming IO-550G 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen C. Stripe - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2001 - Departed: AIO, Atlantic, IA - Destination: FNB, Falls City, NE - Airport: FNB, Brenner Field, runway 32, 4,000 × 60 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 516 total, 190 in this make and model, 381 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: FNB ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54100. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40167476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.