N2586S

On April 2, 1996, at 2130 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210 sustained substantial damage after gaining 10 to 15 feet of altitude during takeoff when it was struck by a deer. The private pilot and the three passengers were not injured. The pilot elected to continue the flight to Pontiac, Michigan, where he performed an emergency landing. The 14 CFR 91 flight was departing Brooks Field Airport, Marshall, Michigan, en route to New Hudson, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that during takeoff a deer hit the airplane on the left side of the empennage, causing a violent yaw to the left. He thought at first that the deer had hit the left landing gear. The passengers in the rear seat used a flashlight to inspect the damage to the aircraft. It was discovered that the left horizontal stabilizer, elevator and empennage were damaged. The pilot reported that he was concerned about tail flutter and stalling the airplane. He determined that he would maintain 100 knots per hour and continue in the same direction to the nearest airport where he could make a straight in landing, and where there were emergency services at the field. He continued on to Pontiac, Michigan, and maintained 100 knots during landing and made an uneventful landing.