# NTSB GAA17CA438: Piper PA28, N55EM, New Market, VA, July 19, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2017, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: New Market, VA
- Coordinates: 38.656112, -78.708335 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6561&lon=-78.7083&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95666
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA438
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95666/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95666
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA438

## Probable cause

The airplane’s 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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102805), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that, during the landing roll, two deer ran onto the runway and that one impacted the airplane's left side. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement airport page for the destination airport, in part, stated: "Deer and birds on and [in the vicinity of the runway]."

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the airplane reported that, during the landing roll, two deer ran onto the runway and one impacted the left side of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement airport page for the destination airport in part states: "Deer and birds on and [in the vicinity of the runway]".

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55EM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55EM), registered now, S/N 28-7415328, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (151)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7415328
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 15010
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2017
- Departed: VG18, BASYE, VA
- Destination: 8W2, NEW MARKET, VA
- Airport: 8W2, New Market, runway 24, 2,920 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,400 total, 350 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KLUA, 10 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 20170719012519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170719012519A), Jul 19, 2017: Piper PA-28-151, New Market, VA, Substantial damage. During landing rollout aircraft hit a 200 hundred pound deer. Aircraft was damaged on left wing leading edge from the fuselage outboard approximately 30 inches…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95666. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 999 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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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