Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
Collision with a deer during landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
According to the pilot, following a night visual flight rules cross-country flight, he over flew the destination airport at 1,500ft AGL and set up a normal approach.
Just prior to touch down he saw a deer enter the runway from the right and collide with the left main landing gear. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane. As the airplane settled, the left wing struck the runway and the airplane veered left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with a drainage culvert.
The airplane sustained substantial damage the left wing spar and the left main landing gear attachment points.
The airport facility directory does not contain a note to caution that deer are in the vicinity of the airport.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA420