This August 2008 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cirrus SR20. Injuries: None. Location: Greenville, Mich. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting a touch and go landing at night. Just as he was rotating, he saw a deer run across the runway and heard a loud bang and the airplane veered slightly to the left. The pilot thought he had hit a deer, but he continued the takeoff as he did not have enough runway left to stop. Once airborne, the pilot was able to see the damage on the left wing. He stated he maintained an additional 10 knots of airspeed and returned to land. The airplane handled well until short final when the left wing dropped and hit the runway first. The pilot was able to bring the airplane to a stop.
Probable cause: The deer that ran on to the runway.
For more information: NTSB.gov
