20010723034389A

(.19) On July 23, 2001, about 2215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N48228, was substantially damaged during take-off from gallis-Meigs regional airport (gas), gallispolis, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. A federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the flight instructor over the telephone. According to the inspector, the pilot said that he and the student departed ona airpark, milton, west Virginia, on a night instructional flight. The flight instructor stated that they landed on runway 5 at gas, then turned around and started to depart on runway 23. The wind was calm. The flight instructor stated that at rotation, with the student pilot at the controls, they heard a loud thump, and the airplne began to swerve. The student pilot told the flight instructor to take the controls, and the instructor brought the airplane to a stop on the runway. The FAA inspector had a certified airplane and power plant mechanic examine the airplane. According to the inspector, the mechanic reported that the airplane sustained impact damage to it's right side behind the wing strut, and the tail section was twisted where it was riveted to the fuselage. The rivets were found sheared, and the dorsal fin and leading edge of the right elevator were also damaged. Evidence of deer fur and flesh were found in the tail section, but a deer was not located. Runway 23 was a 3,998 feet long by 75 feet wide asphalt runway that was equipped with medium intensity runway lights. The runway lights were available 24-hours a day and were pilot controlled. A review of published information about gallia-Meigs regional airport revealed that deer and birds are reported to be on and in the vicinity of the airport. Weather at huntington tri-state/milton j. ferguson field (hts), huntington, west Virginia, at 2215, was wind from 120 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, and sky clear. According to the FAA, the pilot reported a total of 500 flight hours. (-23) at rotation, on takeoff rwy 23, aircraft struck a deer. Deer impact occurred mid right rear fuselage. Tail assembly received significant damage. Takeoff was aborted on runway without further incident. No fire. No injuri es. (.4) during the take-off roll on a 3,998 foot long lighted runway at night, a deer struck the right side of the airplane. The airplane began to swerve and the flight instructor was able to stop the airplane on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the tailcone was distorted, and the right horizontal stabilzer and dorsal fin sustained impact damage. The flight instructor stated that they did not see a deer prior to the impact. Patches of deer fur were found on the elevator, but a deer was never located.