N7581V – CESSNA 177RG – 1994-03-31 NTSB Accident Report

On March 31, 1994, a Cessna 177RG (N7581V) was involved in an incident near Charlotte, MI. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The deer which ran onto the runway. Factors related to the accident were the night conditions and the runway lights which were contacted.

On March 30, 1994, at 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N7581V, operated by Arthur R. LeBlanc, collided with two runway lights on landing at the Fitch H. Beach Airport, Charlotte, Michigan, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Bluffton, Ohio, on March 30, 1994, at 1930.

The pilot reported that during the landing roll two deer ran across the runway in front of the airplane. He veered the airplane to the left in an attempt to miss the deer. The left side of the horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged when it along with the propeller contacted two runway edge lights.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI94LA124. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7581V.