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GAA18CA402

2018-06-27 · ROLLA, Missouri, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport VIH

Current FAA registration · N7104F

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-151
Year of manufacture
1976 · 42 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19761102
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A97EF7

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

A collision with a deer on the runway during the takeoff roll at night.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during the takeoff roll at night, with the student pilot on the controls, the airplane's left wing struck a deer on the runway. They maneuvered the airplane off the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory, Airport Remarks, for the accident airport states in part that there is wildlife on and in the vicinity of the airport. The flight instructor reported that, during the takeoff roll at night with the student pilot on the controls, the airplane's left wing struck a deer on the runway. They maneuvered the airplane off the runway without further incident.  The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory, Airport Remarks, for the accident airport stated, in part, that there is wildlife on and in the vicinity of the airport.  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 operation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA402.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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