What happened
The aircraft was operating from a private airstrip situated on a hillside. The strip featured a pronounced crown at its midpoint, which significantly inhibited the pilot's view of the far end of the runway during operations.
Prior to the incident, the pilot had landed at the northern end of the airstrip and taxied to the southern end to board a passenger. After boarding was complete, the pilot proceeded to initiate takeoff toward the north. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft collided with a cow located on the airstrip.
The investigation
The physical evidence indicated that the terrain of the private airstrip played a critical role in the sequence of events. The crown at the midpoint of the strip prevented the pilot from seeing the entire length of the runway during the takeoff phase, contributing to the collision with the animal.
Findings
Contributing factors included the topography of the private airstrip and the presence of livestock on the active surface. The limited visibility caused by the hillside terrain hindered the pilot's ability to detect the obstruction before impact.