Casualties unknown

Aircraft Runs off Runway After Avoidance Maneuver for Dog on Landing (N5576D)

Oregon City, OR, US

On July 14, 2005, a Beech H-35 (registration N5576D) operated by David A Laurini was involved in an aviation accident near Oregon City, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The unattended animal on the runway during the landing, which caused the pilot to pull up and land a second time, resulting in an overrun. A factor contributing to the accident was the inability to abort the landing due to obstacles at the end of the runway. 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 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

Following a landing, the pilot maneuvered to avoid a dog on the runway. After a second landing, insufficient stopping distance led to a runway excursion into a ditch, causing substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A post-landing incident occurred when the pilot took evasive action to avoid a dog that had run in front of the aircraft. The subsequent sequence of events resulted in a runway excursion that left the aircraft substantially damaged.

Sequence of Events

After touching down, the pilot noticed a dog running onto the runway ahead. To avoid striking the animal, the pilot pulled up on the controls. Recognizing the risk of a stall from the reduced airspeed, the pilot added power to maintain lift. The aircraft then climbed and completed a second circuit to land again.

On the second landing, during the rollout, the pilot determined that insufficient runway remained to bring the aircraft to a stop. The pilot considered a go-around but found that obstacles at the departure end of the runway precluded that option. Consequently, the aircraft continued beyond the runway surface, ran off the end, and came to rest in a ditch adjacent to the runway.

Damage

The impact with the ditch resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft structure.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050805X01173. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.