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Casualties unknown

Aircraft Strikes Deer During Landing Flare on Runway 31 (N87430)

Hibbing, MN, US

On May 23, 2000, a Cessna C310R (registration N87430) was involved in an aviation accident near Hibbing, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to see and avoid a deer on the runway during the landing flare, resulting in an impact with the right horizontal stabilizer. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-19Data APIEditorial standards

During a landing flare on runway 31, an aircraft struck a deer crossing from the northeast to southwest. The impact occurred approximately 2,000 feet down the runway with the right horizontal stabilizer.

What happened

The aircraft was conducting a landing operation on runway 31 when it encountered a large animal in the landing zone. According to the pilot's account, a deer was running across the active runway from the northeast toward the southwest. As the aircraft entered its final flare phase for touchdown, the pilot observed the animal directly beneath the aircraft's tip tank.

At an altitude and position approximately 2,000 feet down runway 31, the aircraft made contact with the deer. The impact was sustained by the right horizontal stabilizer of the airframe. No further details regarding subsequent taxiing or damage assessment are provided in the source record.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to see and avoid a deer on the runway during the landing flare, resulting in an impact with the right horizontal stabilizer.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X20961. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.