What happened
On January 27, 2016, a Pilatus PC12, registration N338PC, was performing a takeoff roll under night visual conditions. During the rotation phase, the pilot observed two white-tailed deer running across the runway. The pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft to avoid the animals, but one deer struck the nose wheel.
Following the impact, the pilot elected to continue the takeoff. The aircraft orbited the airport for approximately 1.5 hours before landing without further incident. A postflight inspection of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. There were no injuries resulting from the event.
Findings
An investigation into the incident revealed that the airport's movement areas are enclosed by a 6-foot tall chain link fence with triple strand barbed wire on 45-degree angle outriggers. The airport manager noted that the local deer population had increased due to hunting pressure in the surrounding areas.
There were no mechanical failures or malfunctions involving the engine or airframe identified prior to the impact.