Ann Arbor Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Friday, October 10, 2014 19:59 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The collision with a deer during a night takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/10/2014
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1959
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Ann Arbor
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48108
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421323N
Event Location Longitude 0834444W
Event Location Airport Ann Arbor Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ARB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 839
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ARB
Elevation of weather observation facility 839
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KARB 102353Z AUTO 02004KT 10SM CLR 10/01 A30
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33352
NTSB Notification Source Mitch Gallo, Central Region Du
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2014 7:31AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2817X
NTSB Number CEN15CA013
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7990457
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 20 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 6693
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name BVD Co Flying Club
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Ypsilanti
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48197
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BVD Co Flying Club
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Ypsilanti
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48197
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ARB
Departure City Ann Arbor
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1941
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ARB
Destination City Ann Arbor
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2014 7:31AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 06
Runway Length 3505
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --