What happened
The accident occurred during nighttime operations while the aircraft was conducting a landing. Prior to the final approach, the pilot executed a low pass over the runway to assess surface conditions. During the subsequent landing roll, one deer crossed the runway ahead of the airplane. Shortly after this initial encounter, a second deer entered the runway and was struck by the moving aircraft. The impact resulted in damage to the airplane.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the nighttime landing and the interaction between the aircraft and wildlife on the runway. Examination of the event revealed that the pilot had taken precautions by performing a low approach to check the runway condition before committing to the landing. Despite these measures, the presence of deer on the active runway during the landing roll led to the collision.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the damage was the presence of wildlife on the runway during critical phases of flight. The nighttime conditions likely reduced visibility, making it difficult for the pilot to detect the animals in time to avoid them. The sequence of events indicates that while the pilot attempted to verify runway safety via a low approach, the dynamic nature of wildlife movement posed an unavoidable hazard during the landing roll.
Safety message
Pilots operating at night should remain vigilant for wildlife on or near runways, as animals may be difficult to see until they are very close. Conducting low approaches can help assess runway conditions but does not guarantee the absence of hazards such as deer crossing the active surface.