# NTSB ERA21LA186: Piper PA-32R-301, N299HP, Troy, AL, April 11, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 11, 2021, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Troy, AL · On runway 7
- Coordinates: 31.86, -86.013889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8600&lon=-86.0139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102915
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102915/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102915
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA186

## Probable cause

An unanticipated encounter with a deer shortly after touchdown, resulting in a collision and substantial damage to the airframe.

## 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-32R-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, seconds after touchdown, a deer impacted the leading edge of the right wing and then impacted the right side of the fuselage. Neither the pilot nor his passenger observed the deer before impact. He observed the deer lying on the runway and taxied to the ramp and to examine the damage. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the damage to the fuselage was substantial.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N299HP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N299HP), registered now, S/N 3246136, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (registry code 7103218) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3246136
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 2306
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 300 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2020, 68 hours before
- Departed: MDQ, Huntsville, AL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TOI, Troy Muni At N Kenneth Campbell Fld, runway 07/25, 6,197 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, military, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,512 total, 86 in this make and model, 104 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: TOI, 9 nm away

## 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 20210411003779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210411003779A), Apr 11, 2021: Piper PA-32R-301, Troy, AL, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck a deer on rollout after landing.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102915. 7.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12245660&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12245073&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Pilots%20Written%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum for record - FAA interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 471 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12245529&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20Memo%20for%20Record%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12245177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Photo%20Array-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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