N7575V

On December 26, 2003, at 1715 central standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N7575V, owned and piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage impacting a deer during landing roll on runway 18 (6,002 feet by 150 feet, grooved asphalt) at Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO), Waterloo, Iowa. Night visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The private pilot and airline transport pilot rated passenger were uninjured. The flight originated from ALO at 1500, flew to Mason City Municipal Airport, Mason City, Iowa, and flew to Fort Dodge Regional Airport (FOD), Fort Dodge, Iowa, and then returned to ALO.

The purpose of flight was to practice with the airplane's newly installed global positioning system (GPS) receiver. After departing FOD, the pilot returned to ALO where he performed a GPS approach to runway 18. During landing roll out, just beyond the intersection of runways 18 and 12, a deer, seen by the right seat pilot, impacted an area near the right horizontal stabilizer. The airplane was then taxied back to the hangar.

According to an airframe and power plant mechanic, the tail area sustained damage. This consisted of damaged attachment fittings found in the tail section. The aft section of the lower and upper fuselage skin was damaged. Brackets in the tail cone "stinger" area were also damaged.

Astronomical data for the day of the accident states that sunset was at 1643 and end of civil twilight was at 1715.