Piper PA28 accident near West Seneca, New York, October 27, 2017
On October 27, 2017 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA28, registered N4509F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near West Seneca, New York (Buffalo Airfield). 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 during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2017 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Seneca, New York · Buffalo Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 151, built 1976 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N4509F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, in day visual meteorological conditions, during the landing roll, a deer "appeared from high grass and bushes" from the right of the runway. He added that, before he could react, the deer impacted the inboard section of the right wing. The flight instructor stopped the airplane on the runway and then taxied to the ramp without further incident The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement for the airport stated, in part: "Deer on and invof [in the vicinity of] arpt [airport]."
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
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 16, 2015
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,903 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 12, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,326 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 10,265 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9G3 Akron NY at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 9G0 West Seneca NY
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 24, 2,668 ft by 59 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from KBUF, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2018. 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 | FAA Chart Supplement 9G0 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.