NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA16CA314
Registry · N31396
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-32-300
Year of manufacture
1978 · 38 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19780414
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A355A8
Registrant of record
PUCCIARELLI ALBERT J
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The airplane struck a deer during the landing flare resulting in substantial damage.
Factual narrative
The pilot in command (PIC) reported that he executed a normal approach, following an instrument proficiency check. He reported that during the landing flare the flight instructor, "grabbed the yoke and pulled up," and he heard a loud thump. The PIC reported that he thought the flight instructor was performing a go around, however the flight instructor said, "we hit a deer and must not go around." The airplane settled to the runway, the right wing "dipped onto the ground" and slid to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main landing gear attachment point. The PIC reported that he exited the airplane and saw the right main landing gear and the deer on the runway near the intended touchdown point. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane prior to striking the deer. The pilot in command (PIC) reported that he executed a normal approach, following an instrument proficiency check. He reported that during the landing flare the flight instructor, "grabbed the yoke and pulled up," and he heard a loud thump. The PIC reported that he thought the flight instructor was performing a go around, however the flight instructor said, "we hit a deer and must not go around." The airplane settled to the runway, the right wing "dipped onto the ground" and slid to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main landing gear attachment point. The PIC reported that he exited the airplane and saw the right main landing gear and the deer on the runway near the intended touchdown point. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane prior to striking the deer. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2016_GAA16CA314.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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