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ERA11CA072

2010-11-13 · Andover, New Jersey, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 12N

Current FAA registration · N15499

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-140
Year of manufacture
1972 · 38 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19721103
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0DCC0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

An inadvertent collision with a deer on the runway during a night landing.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he was on final approach to runway 3, and the runway lights and airplane landing lights were illuminated. He initiated the landing flare, and then heard a "bang" from the right side of the airplane. During the landing rollout, the right wing settled onto the ground, the airplane veered to the right, and then came to rest on the edge of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear was separated, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The separated right main landing gear was located on the runway adjacent to a dead deer. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to striking the deer. According to the pilot, the airplane was on final approach with the runway lights and airplane landing lights illuminated. During the landing flare, he heard a "bang" from the right side of the airplane. As the airplane continued on the landing rollout, the right wing settled onto the ground. The airplane veered to the right and came to rest on the edge of the runway surface. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear was separated, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The separated right main landing gear was located on the runway adjacent to a dead deer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to it colliding with the deer. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_ERA11CA072.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.