Piper PA-32-260 accident near Wagoner, Oklahoma, June 6, 2011
On June 6, 2011 at about 1:05 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3534W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Wagoner, Oklahoma (Hefner-Easley Airport). It was a personal 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
The airplane's collision with a deer during the landing flare and touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2011 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Wagoner, Oklahoma · Hefner-Easley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3534W · registry record · serial 32-421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing flare and touchdown, two deer ran onto the runway. The airplane struck one deer separating the nose landing gear. The nose of the airplane settled to the runway and the airplane skid for an additional 500 feet before coming to a stop. An examination of the airframe revealed that the firewall was wrinkled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the impact with the deer.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,072 hours in all; 1,073 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 5, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,940 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2011
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1K8 Ketchum OK at 12:30 pm
- Destination: LH68 Wagoner OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,405 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.