Piper PA 32 N31396

Summary

On 9 June 2016 at about 20:45 local time, a Piper PA 32 registered N31396 was involved in an accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 June 2016 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lincoln Park, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Lincoln Park (N07)

Coordinates

40.9475, -74.3144

Aircraft

Piper PA 32

Registration

N31396

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toms River → Lincoln Park

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA314

Nobody was injured.

The airplane struck a deer during the landing flare resulting in substantial damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot in command (PIC) reported that he executed a normal approach, following an instrument proficiency check. He reported that during the landing flare the flight instructor, "grabbed the yoke and pulled up," and he heard a loud thump. The PIC reported that he thought the flight instructor was performing a go around, however the flight instructor said, "we hit a deer and must not go around."  The airplane settled to the runway, the right wing "dipped onto the ground" and slid to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main landing gear attachment point. The PIC reported that he exited the airplane and saw the right main landing gear and the deer on the runway near the intended touchdown point. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane prior to striking the deer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.