On January 9, 2000, a Piper PA-28R-201 (registration N2292M) operated by Peterson Afb Flying Club was involved in an aviation accident near Pueblo, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with a deer during landing roll in dark conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a nighttime touch-and-go landing, the aircraft collided with a deer on the runway, resulting in damage to the right wing and main landing gear.
What happened
The incident occurred during a dark night at an airport that lacked specific wildlife control equipment despite having security perimeter fencing. The pilot was conducting a touch-and-go landing procedure when the aircraft encountered a deer on the runway surface during the landing roll phase. The collision resulted in physical damage to the airframe and landing gear components.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the right wing leading edge sustained impact damage. Additionally, the right main landing gear was damaged as a result of the wildlife strike. The airport infrastructure included perimeter fencing but did not possess specialized systems designed to deter or control wildlife presence on the airfield.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was the presence of wildlife on the active runway during low-visibility night operations. The lack of specific wildlife mitigation equipment at the facility may have contributed to the risk, although the immediate cause was the physical collision with the animal.
Probable cause
Collision with a deer during landing roll in dark conditions.