# NTSB ERA25LA206: Piper PA-28-181, N335BG, Tiffin, OH, May 8, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 7, 2025, 20:29 local (May 8, 2025, 00:29 UTC) - Place: Tiffin, OH · Airport runway - Coordinates: 41.09298, -83.213897 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0930&lon=-83.2139&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 November 6, 2025 - 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): 200187 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200187/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200187 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA206 ## Probable cause The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during takeoff. ## 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 · Effect on equipment (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) ## 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 reported that the purpose of the flight was for her student to practice an instrument approach procedure under visual flight rules. After completion of the approach and during the landing roll at dusk, she instructed the student to retract the flaps and apply full power for a touch-and-go. As the airplane accelerated during the takeoff roll, a deer appeared from their right and impacted the airplane. The flight crew aborted the takeoff and brought the airplane to a stop. The underside of the fuselage was substantially damaged as a result of the collision. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N335BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N335BG), registered now, S/N 2881085, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b4a) (registry code 41867, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2881085 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 4521.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bowling Green Flight Center LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 5, 2025, 7.3 hours before - Departed: 1G0, Bowling Green, OH - Airport: 16G, Seneca County Airport, runway 24, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## 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, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 536.2 total, 366.5 in this make and model, 422.1 as pilot in command, 70.4 in the last 90 days, 11.4 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 120.2 total, 33.6 in this make and model, 72.4 as pilot in command, 36.4 in the last 90 days, 9.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FDY, 21 nm away - METAR: KFDY 080053Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM CLR 19/12 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP166 T01940122 ## 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 20250507004059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250507004059A), May 7, 2025: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181, Tiffin, OH, Substantial damage. Landed with student pilot on rwy 24, retracted flaps, applied power and accelerated to rotation when deer crossed in front of aircraft too close to react and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200187. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18999435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18999512&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%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. --- 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.