Casualties unknown

2002-01-29: Piper PA-32-300 (N56729) — Falls City, NE

Falls City, NE, US

On January 29, 2002, a Piper PA-32-300 (registration N56729) was involved in an aviation accident near Falls City, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The deer striking the airplane during landing. A factor relating to this accident was the dark night. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During landing flare, a pilot heard a loud bang and the aircraft swerved before control was regained. A 200-pound buck deer was found on the runway, and the right wing sustained substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during the landing flare, after the main landing gear had touched down, a loud bang was heard. The aircraft then swerved to the right and subsequently to the left. The pilot managed to regain control and taxied the aircraft to parking without further incident.

Post-Flight Findings

Later, the pilot returned to the runway and discovered a 200-pound buck deer lying on the left side of the runway. An examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the right wing. No other anomalies were found.

Examination Details

Inspection of the aircraft showed that the damage was limited to the right wing. The extent of the damage was classified as substantial. No other mechanical or structural issues were identified during the examination.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X01618. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.