On April 30, 2000, a Piper PA-32RT-200 (registration N9385C) was involved in an aviation accident near Mt. Pleasant, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane collision with a deer during a night landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a night landing on runway 17, an airplane struck a deer on the landing roll, causing a propeller strike and the collapse of the right main landing gear.
Incident Overview
A pilot completed a traffic pattern and initiated a night landing on runway 17 at the destination airport. The before-landing checklist was performed, including activation of the landing light. According to the pilot, the airplane was approximately 2,500 feet down the runway during the landing roll when a deer was observed on the runway.
Sequence of Events
As the airplane continued its landing roll-out, the right propeller struck the deer. Following the impact, the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot did not report any mechanical issues with the airplane prior to or during the event.
Damage Assessment
The collision resulted in a propeller strike and the collapse of the right main landing gear. No further damage details were provided in the report.