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Accidents · NTSB CEN24LA273 · Final report

Piper PA28 accident near Blaine, Minnesota, July 16, 2024

On July 16, 2024 at about 2:25 am local time, a 2022 Piper PA28, registered N220CE, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Blaine, Minnesota (Anoka County/Blaine Airport (J). 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

The airplane’s collision with a deer on the runway during takeoff.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 16, 2024 · about 2:25 am local time
Place
Blaine, Minnesota · Anoka County/Blaine Airport (J · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA28 181, built 2022 · all PA28s on the register
Registration
N220CE · registry record · serial 2881530
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot reported that he was conducting an instructional flight near dusk and was demonstrating a touch-and-go. Once the nose wheel began to lift off the runway, he noticed a streak of brown appear in front of the airplane, and he felt a thud. The right wing struck a deer, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot continued the takeoff, notified air traffic control, and returned to the airport without further incident.

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

  1. Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Contributed to outcome
  • Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate

Pilot

  • Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 612 hours in all; 560 in this make and model; 187 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 545 as pilot in command; 340 on instruments
  • Last flight review: June 27, 2023
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

Dual student

  • Certificate: student
  • Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,194.9 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 2, 2024; 37.4 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B4A (piston); 2,159 hours total
  • Operator: Atp Flight School LLC

The flight

  • Departed from: ANE Blaine MN at 1:30 am
  • Destination: ANE Blaine MN
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 36, 4,855 ft by 100 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: dusk
  • Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
  • Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
  • Observation at 9:50 pm from KANE

Weather report (METAR): KANE 160250Z 34006KT 10SM SCT065 25/18 A2976

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2

Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

[CEN24LA273] Photograph 1 – Accident Airplane, from the NTSB investigation of Piper PA28 accident near Blaine, Minnesota, July 16, 2024[CEN24LA273] Photograph 1 – Accident Airplane[CEN24LA273] Photograph 2 – Right Wing Substantial Damage, from the NTSB investigation of Piper PA28 accident near Blaine, Minnesota, July 16, 2024[CEN24LA273] Photograph 2 – Right Wing Substantial Damage

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 27, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 PDF, 9 pages View Download
2 Investigation Photographs PDF, 3 pages · our copy View Download

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.