What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1998-01-29 involved a Piper PA-34-200T, registration N47744, at Chinle, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the airport personnel's failure to provide an adequate perimeter barrier to prevent animals from entering the runway area. A factor in the accident was the dark night lighting conditions which hindered the pilot's ability to detect animals on the runway during the overflight and prior to touchdown.

Pilot Strikes Horse on Landing Roll After Overflight to Check Runway (N47744)

On January 29, 1998, a Piper PA-34-200T (registration N47744) was involved in an aviation accident near Chinle, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the airport personnel's failure to provide an adequate perimeter barrier to prevent animals from entering the runway area. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

During a night landing, a pilot hit a horse with the left wing after avoiding another. The aircraft skidded left, collapsing the left main gear and striking the propeller on the ground.

Incident Overview

A pilot conducting a night landing struck a horse with the left wing during the landing roll, following an overflight to check for animals. The aircraft subsequently entered a skid, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear and multiple propeller strikes on the ground.

Pilot's Actions Prior to Landing

The pilot reported that because animals often entered the airport boundary fence through a gate meant for people, he first overflew the airport at 500 feet above ground level (AGL) to verify that the runway was clear. He stated that both the runway lights and aircraft landing lights were on. The night was described as dark with no moon.

Accident Narrative

During the landing roll, the pilot made a correction to the left to avoid hitting a horse that was in front and to the right of him. As he straightened the airplane, a second horse appeared approximately 50 feet straight ahead. The pilot reported that he "didn't have time to react and we hit the horse with the left wing just left of the engine at about 70 knots." After the impact, the airplane deflected left and headed towards the fence surrounding the airport.

Evasive Maneuvers and Outcome

The pilot stated that he pressed right rudder and brake in order to avoid going through the fence. In response, the plane entered into a left skid. The left main landing gear collapsed and the left propeller impacted the ground several times before the airplane came to a stop.

1998-01-29: Piper PA-34-200T (N47744) — Chinle, AZ