# NTSB ERA25LA375: Cessna 172, N6703A, Punxsutawney, PA, September 29, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 29, 2025, 19:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Punxsutawney, PA · KN35 - Runway 6 - Coordinates: 40.966837, -78.929904 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9668&lon=-78.9299&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 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): 201771 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201771/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201771 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA375 ## Probable cause The airplane’s collision with a deer on a runway during 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: [Cessna 172, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072402), [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: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) ## Analysis Immediately after touchdown on the runway, the pilot noticed a large deer running in his peripheral vision. The deer contacted the left side of the airplane, which pushed it abruptly toward the left. The pilot steered the airplane to prevent a runway excursion, exited the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot was unable to exit the pilot’s (left) side door, due to damage preventing it from opening. He exited from the right-side door without issue. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane’s left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6703A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6703A), registered now, S/N 28803, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28803 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 2143.2 - Engines: Continental O-300B 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2024 - Departed: N35, Punxsutawney, PA - Airport: N35, Punxsutawney Muni, runway 06, 3,003 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 9, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 389.2 total, 347.5 in this make and model, 297.7 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KDUJ, 13 nm away - METAR: KDUJ 282253Z AUTO 32004KT 10SM CLR 23/13 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP207 T02330133 ## 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 20250929016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250929016159A), Sep 29, 2025: Cessna 172, Punxsutawney, PA, Substantial damage. On September 29, 2025, at approximately 11:02 eastern time a Cessna 172, [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident at Punxsutawney Municipal Airport… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201771. 49.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 48.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19450801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%206703A_Redacted_2-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19416771&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA375%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. --- 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.