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GAA17CA438

2017-07-19 · NEW MARKET, Virginia, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 8W2

Current FAA registration · N55EM

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-151
Year of manufacture
1974 · 43 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19740315
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6FD82

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The airplane’s collision with a deer during the landing roll.

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]". 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]." 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)-Ability to respond/compensate - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA438.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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