Piper PA-28-140 accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, September 1, 2003
On September 1, 2003, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N3542K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Murfreesboro Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An on-ground collision with an animal (deer) during an attempted takeoff. .
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2003
- Place
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee · Murfreesboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N3542K · registry record · serial 28-23617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During take off at approximately 70 knots a deer charged the airplane. The power was reduced to idle and the deer struck the airplane. The airplane veered off the runway into the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right front engine cowling, and bending of the propeller. The right side of the firewall was buckled.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 697 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 106 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2003; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMBT Murfreesboro TN
- Destination: KMBT Murfreesboro TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,898 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KBNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.