Litchfield, IL, USA
N3258W
Piper PA-32-260
The airplane was damaged when it struck a deer during the landing roll at night. The pilot reported that he performed a low approach to check the runway condition prior to executing the landing. The pilot reported that one deer ran across the runway while the airplane was on the landing roll and shortly afterward, a second deer ran onto the runway and was struck by the airplane.
On August 9, 2003, at 2040 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N3258W, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it struck a deer while landing on runway 36 (4,003 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at Litchfield Municipal Airport (3LF), Litchfield, Illinois. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and his three passengers reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight departed from St. Louis Regional Airport, Alton, Illinois, approximately at 2025 According to the pilot, he was flying to 3LF to conduct some night full-stop landings. He performed a low approach to check out the runway, then the pilot performed an uneventful approach and landing. As the airplane was slowing down, and before he started to brake, he saw a deer run across the runway in front of the airplane. Shortly after seeing the first deer, the airplane impacted a second deer which ran onto the runway. The airplane was damaged on the left fuselage and the left wing.
An animal wandered onto the runway and collided with the airplane. A factor was the night light condition.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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