Probable cause
The collision with a deer during a night takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that the accident occurred as she was practicing nighttime takeoffs and landings. During the takeoff roll, as the airplane was rotating for liftoff, the airplane collided with a deer on the runway. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff on the remaining runway. Following the accident a portion of the deer was found wrapped around the nose landing gear. Further examination revealed substantial damage to the forward fuselage and firewall as result of the collision with the deer. The pilot reported that, before the collision with the deer, there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN15CA013 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 10, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Nearest airport
- Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (ARB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Piper PA-28-181
- N-number
- N2817X
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1979
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.