# NTSB ERA25LA233: Piper PA28, N4533X, Knoxville, TN, June 8, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 8, 2025, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.964302, -83.871333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9643&lon=-83.8713&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 November 14, 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): 200358
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA233
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200358/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200358
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA233

## Probable cause

A collision with a deer during the landing roll.

## 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.

- [Landing-landing roll: 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 student pilot had performed four uneventful landings, and during approach for the fifth landing, the flight instructor reported he scanned the runway environment and did not see anything that would warrant discontinuing the landing. The pilot continued the approach and after touchdown during the landing roll the flight instructor saw two deer run out from the tree line next to the runway. The flight instructor decided to apply the brakes, and while traveling at a speed of about 20 knots, one of the deer impacted the left wing, substantially damaging it. After the collision the airplane was taxied to the ramp and secured.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4533X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4533X), registered now, S/N 28-7690031, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (181)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-7690031
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 7156
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 5, 2025, 69 hours before
- Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island Airport, runway 26, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2024; seat: right; flight hours: 500 total, 41 in this make and model, 394 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 73 total, 7 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: KDKX
- METAR: METAR KDKX 081555Z AUTO 23013G21KT 10SM FEW024 FEW028 FEW080 27/22 A2981 RMK A01=

## 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 20250608011319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250608011319A), Jun 8, 2025: Piper PA-28-181, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. On 06/08/2025 student pilot and CFI were practicing crosswind landings on runway 26 at Downtown Island home airport dkx. During the 5th landing aircraft…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200358. 10.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - from operator (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19378389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20Fm%20Operator%20Recd%208%2014%202025%20v01-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - from pilots (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19378876&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20Fm%20Plts%20Recd%208%2022%202025_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 764 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19378407&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19378298&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-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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