What happened
During the initial climb phase of flight, shortly after leaving the ground at an indicated airspeed of approximately 70 knots, a large animal, identified as a deer, suddenly charged toward the aircraft. The pilot immediately reduced engine power to idle in an attempt to mitigate the impact. Despite this action, the deer struck the airplane while it was still airborne or just above the runway surface.
The force of the collision caused the aircraft to veer off the paved runway and enter the adjacent grassy area. No further details regarding the specific airport location, registration number, or pilot injuries are provided in the source text.
The investigation
A post-incident examination of the airframe revealed significant structural damage concentrated on the right side of the aircraft. The inspection identified the following specific failures:
- Damage to the right front engine cowling
- Bending of the propeller blades
- Buckling of the firewall on the right side
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the collision with wildlife during a critical phase of flight. The mechanical damage sustained was consistent with a direct impact from a large animal at low altitude and relatively high airspeed.