What happened
On 16 January 1998, a Cessna 650 Citation III, registration PH-MEX, was performing a private flight when it encountered wildlife on the runway at Exeter Airport. As the aircraft touched down on Runway 26 and decelerated to a speed of approximately 120 kt, it struck a small deer that had entered the runway area.
The impact occurred roughly two seconds after touchdown. Following the collision, the pilot was able to continue the landing roll and taxi the aircraft to the ramp, where all eight passengers and two crew members disembarked without injury. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the left main landing gear assembly, the left inboard flap, and the left landing light.
The investigation
The investigation established that the deer had likely jumped a four-foot airfield boundary fence located to the north of the runway. At the time of the accident, which occurred at 0727 UTC, it was still dark. The investigation found that the deer would not have been visible to the crew in the cockpit or to the Aerodrome Controller from the control tower.
Prior to the incident, the Aerodrome Controller had completed a full inspection of the runway and taxiways after beginning their shift at 0500 hrs that morning. Post-occurrence inspections of the runway led to the recovery of the animal and various pieces of aircraft debris.