Cessna 172 accident near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, September 29, 2025
On September 29, 2025 at about 11:05 pm local time, a 1956 Cessna 172, registered N6703A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Punxsutawney Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s collision with a deer on a runway during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2025 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania · Punxsutawney Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172, built 1956 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6703A · registry record · serial 28803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Immediately after touchdown on the runway, the pilot noticed a large deer running in his peripheral vision. The deer contacted the left side of the airplane, which pushed it abruptly toward the left. The pilot steered the airplane to prevent a runway excursion, exited the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot was unable to exit the pilot’s (left) side door, due to damage preventing it from opening. He exited from the right-side door without issue. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane’s left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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 landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 389.2 hours in all; 347.5 in this make and model; 297.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,143.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300B (piston); 2,143 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N35 Punxsutawney PA at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 3,003 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KDUJ, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDUJ 282253Z AUTO 32004KT 10SM CLR 23/13 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP207 T02330133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 ERA25LA375.