Piper PA-28-181 accident near Montauk, New York, November 7, 2003
On November 7, 2003 at about 1:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N80852, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montauk, New York (Montauk 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control after performing an evasive maneuver to avoid a deer crossing the unlit runway, which resulted in a collision with trees. Factors related to the accident were the nighttime conditions, the inoperative runway lighting system, and the deer crossing the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2003 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Montauk Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N80852 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8090081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he approached the airport area and attempted to turn on the pilot controlled lighting system at the airport. After several attempts, the only airport lighting the pilot observed illuminated was the windsock. The pilot continued the approach to the airport, and made a "low pass" over the runway to scare any deer away. The pilot then entered a left downwind for the runway, and elected to land without runway lights, due to ambient lighting. After the airplane touched down on the runway, during the rollout, the pilot observed deer crossing in front of the airplane from left to right. The pilot turned the airplane to the left to avoid the deer; however, the left wing struck a small stand of trees, substantially damaging the wing. According to the airport manager, the lighting system was tested the following morning, and all lighting except the runway lights illuminated. On following day, the lighting was tested again, and all lights illuminated. The manager added that it had rained the day before the accident, and the lighting control box was wet when examined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,046 hours in all; 906 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,007 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,511 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2003; 4,423 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBJ Linden NJ
- Destination: MTP Montauk NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 3,258 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from MTP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.