Piper PA-28-180 accident near Crete, Nebraska, June 21, 2024
On June 21, 2024 at about 3:45 am local time, a 1974 Piper PA-28-180, registered N32426, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Crete, Nebraska (Crete Muni 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during a touch-and-go landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2024 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Crete, Nebraska · Crete Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1974 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N32426 · registry record · serial 28-7505059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff phase of a night touch-and-go landing, a deer ran out across the runway from right to left. The airplane collided with the deer and the pilot rejected the takeoff. The right wing and forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 570 hours in all; 481 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 499 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,927 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,245 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 942 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIE Beatrice NE at 3:43 am
- Destination: CEK Crete NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 4,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from KLNK, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLNK 210354Z 15007KT 10SM CLR 27/21 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP199 T02670211
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA235.