# NTSB ERA23LA368: Piper PA-28-181, N1809H, Culpeper, VA, July 15, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 14, 2023, 21:50 local (Jul 15, 2023, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Culpeper, VA
- Coordinates: 38.526205, -77.859168 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5262&lon=-77.8592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: 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): 193055
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA368
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193055/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193055
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA368

## Probable cause

The airplane’s impact with a deer while performing a takeoff at night.

## 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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102807), [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 · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102807), [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.

- [Takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot completed several night landings without anomaly. Then, during the next takeoff, the student pilot applied engine power and the airplane accelerated down the runway. Just after reaching 50 knots, they noticed two deer standing in the center of the runway and called to abort the takeoff. They reduced the engine power and applied the brakes, but they were unable to stop before striking one of the deer with the left wing, which resulted in substantial damaged to the wing. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1809H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1809H), registered now, S/N 28-7790314 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7790314
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 7911
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Piston2Jet LLC
- Registered owner: Aviation Consulting Expertise LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HEF, Manassas, VA
- Destination: HEF, Manassas, VA
- Airport: CJR, Culpeper Rgnl, runway 22, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,151 total, 995 as pilot in command, 215 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 30 total, 26 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KCJR
- METAR: KCJR 230135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/17 A2990 RMK AO2 T02190165

## 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 20230714009949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230714009949A), Jul 14, 2023: Piper PA-28-181, Culpeper, VA, Substantial damage. CFI was conducting night landing and takeoff instruction with student pilot at kcjr. Student pilot set up short field takeoff and applied full power. Student…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193055. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilots' statements (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16335976&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16336483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA368%206120%20for%20docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16336084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20LA368-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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