Incident Overview
On 17 December 2021, at approximately 16:10 local time, a Cessna 172 (registration 9A-DHL) struck a roe deer while landing on runway 10L/28R at Lučko Aerodrome (LDZL). The pilot had just completed a local flight in the aerodrome's traffic zone. As the aircraft flared, a roe deer that had been lying in the grass ran onto the runway and was hit. The pilot reported not seeing the deer before impact.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172N Skyhawk, serial number 17271491, manufactured between 1977 and 1980. It was registered to a private individual, who also operated it. The pilot, a Croatian male born in 1988, held a valid Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) with SEP(A) rating, issued in 2020 by Croatian aviation authorities. He was the sole occupant and reported no injuries.
Damage
The aircraft sustained partial damage localized to the left main landing gear, between the wheel and the fuselage. The rest of the airframe was intact.
Aerodrome and Fencing Condition
Lučko Aerodrome is located about 10 km southwest of Zagreb, used for VFR sports and military operations. It has two grass runways (10L/R and 28L/R), taxiways, aprons, and several hangars. The aerodrome is surrounded by a protective fence, but during the investigation it was found damaged in multiple places and overgrown with dense vegetation. These deficiencies allowed wildlife, including the roe deer, to enter the maneuvering area, compromising flight safety.
Cause
The investigation determined that the accident occurred due to damage to the aerodrome's protective fence, which enabled wildlife to move onto the maneuvering surfaces. The fence's poor condition—breaches and overgrowth—permitted the deer to access the runway, leading to the collision.