On May 16, 1997, a Cessna T207A (registration N51SA) was involved in an aviation accident near Monument Valley, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A horse entering the runway after the aircraft touched down. Factors included no fence installed around part of the airstrip, and remedial action not possible. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During the landing roll, a privately-owned aircraft was struck by a lead horse from a galloping herd on an unfenced, open-range airstrip. The pilot could not avoid the collision due to limited runway, resulting in substantial damage.
Incident Description
A privately-owned aircraft was struck by a galloping horse during the landing roll. The pilot reported that the runway was clear during the approach, but after an uneventful touchdown, a herd of horses was spotted galloping toward the aircraft from the left. The available remaining runway length and width prevented effective corrective action by the pilot. Despite an attempt to veer the aircraft clear of the horses, the lead horse struck the aircraft at a full gallop, substantially damaging the aircraft.
Airstrip Characteristics
The incident occurred on a privately-owned open-range airstrip. The airstrip lies partly on a Navajo Indian reservation. The portion of the airstrip located on tribal land is not fenced due to tribal restrictions. The open-range nature of the area means that livestock, including horses, can roam freely.
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