Aircraft Strikes Deer Shortly After Night Takeoff

Accident Details

A pilot reported that during a night takeoff, shortly after rotation, he observed two deer crossing the runway from left to right. One deer was directly in front of his path, and the other was to the left. The pilot pulled back on the yoke in an attempt to avoid the deer, at which point he heard a loud "bang." He believes he missed the deer he had observed but made contact with a third deer that he did not see. Despite the collision, the pilot continued the flight to the intended destination and made an uneventful landing.

Damage and Deer Condition

After landing, an injured deer was located at the departure airport. The aircraft's right horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained substantial damage.