No fatalities

22 Jun 2015: GATES LEARJET CORP. 35A — BETA AIRE LTD — Grosse Ile, MI

Grosse Ile, MI, United States
SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff roll, the pilot felt a faint bump at 130 knots, then experienced control difficulties. After stabilizing, the crew identified right wing leading edge damage and diverted. A deer was later found on the runway. The wing sustained substantial damage.

Incident Details

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, while the aircraft was accelerating through 130 knots, a "faint bump" was felt. The flight crew continued the takeoff and experienced difficulty controlling the airplane, but were able to stabilize it in flight. The pilot noted that no annunciations or warnings appeared on the flight deck. However, the crew was able to identify damage to the leading edge of the right wing.

Damage and Response

The flight crew diverted to an alternate airport and landed without further incident. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing structure. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation prior to the event.

Aftermath

Following the accident, a deer was found on the runway at the departure airport. The departure airport perimeter is partially fenced and co-exists on an island with a nature conservancy. The source does not specify whether the bump was directly caused by the deer, but the presence of the deer on the runway is documented.

Contributing factors

Causes

Effect on equipment

Other contributing factors

AirportOther government