Primary finding
Probable cause
the deer which ran onto the runway. Factors related to the accident were the night conditions and the runway lights which were contacted.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot veered the airplane to the left side of the runway during a landing roll, in an attempt to avoid two deer which ran across the runway. In doing so, the left stabilizer and propeller contacted two runway edge lights.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 30, 1994, at 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N7581V, operated by Arthur R. LeBlanc, collided with two runway lights on landing at the Fitch H. Beach Airport, Charlotte, Michigan, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Bluffton, Ohio, on March 30, 1994, at 1930. The pilot reported that during the landing roll two deer ran across the runway in front of the airplane. He veered the airplane to the left in an attempt to miss the deer. The left side of the horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged when it along with the propeller contacted two runway edge lights. -