Piper PA 32 accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, June 9, 2016
On June 9, 2016 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 32, registered N31396, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lincoln Park, New Jersey (Lincoln Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane struck a deer during the landing flare resulting in substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2016 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln Park, New Jersey · Lincoln Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 32 300, built 1978 · all PA 32s on the register
- Registration
- N31396 · registry record · serial 32-7840129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in command (PIC) reported that he executed a normal approach, following an instrument proficiency check. He reported that during the landing flare the flight instructor, "grabbed the yoke and pulled up," and he heard a loud thump. The PIC reported that he thought the flight instructor was performing a go around, however the flight instructor said, "we hit a deer and must not go around." The airplane settled to the runway, the right wing "dipped onto the ground" and slid to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main landing gear attachment point. The PIC reported that he exited the airplane and saw the right main landing gear and the deer on the runway near the intended touchdown point. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane prior to striking 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 with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,497 hours in all; 1,870 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,497 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 25, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,920 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 4,795 as pilot in command; 3,282 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 18, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,439 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 1,150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MJX Toms River NJ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: N07 Lincoln Park NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,942 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 14 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KCDW, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 6, 2016. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.