N87430

On May 23, 2000, at 0846 central daylight time, a Cessna 310R, N87430, operated by Taconite Aviation Incorporated, was substantially damaged on impact with a deer during landing on runway 31 (6,758 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt) at Chisholm-Hibbing Airport (HIB), Hibbing Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The deer was fatally injured. The flight originated from Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport, Eveleth, Minnesota, at 0840, en route to HIB.

The pilot stated that the deer was running across runway 31 from the northeast towards the southwest. He saw the deer beneath the aircraft's tip tank while flaring. The aircraft was approximately 2,000 feet down runway 31 when it impacted the deer with its right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that a Mesaba Airlines flight impacted a deer last fall during landing at HIB and that he has had "close calls before.".

In a written statement, the pilot reported the following: "...I departed the Eveleth Virginia Municipal airport at around 8:40 AM C.T. to pickup passengers at the Chisholm Hibbing Airport, before entering the traffic pattern I called unicom for an advisory - wind 270 [at] 9 knots altimeter 2945 and no known traffic. Aircraft operated normally, final approach was normal for runway 31. Upon flairing the aircraft ballooned slightly, the power was at idle, I adjusted pitch so as not to drop the aircraft onto the runway. At that moment I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye from the right side outside the aircraft. I glanced toward the movement, saw a deer running. In an attempt to get over the deer, I pulled back on the yoke, I saw the deer pass under the wing and heard a thud, the aircraft pitched nose down and landed on the nose wheel first and then on the mains. The directional control was maintained and the aircraft rolled normal.. Before exiting the runway I called unicom and advise of the deer strike and to have Airport Maintenance check the runway. The Airport Manager met me as I was on the Taxiway, there I shut down and examined the damage to the righthand stabilizer/elevator.".

On April 28, 1999, Mesaba Flight 3390 impacted a deer during landing rollout on runway 31 at HIB. Four to five deer ran out on the runway from right to left. The aircraft was approximately 1/2 down the runway at the time of the incident. A 10-12 inch length of right propeller broke off during the collision with the deer.