CHI00LA021

The pilot reported seeing one deer cross the runway during his night takeoff roll. Shortly thereafter, another deer ran onto the runway and contacted the right main landing gear on the airplane. The pilot continued the takeoff and flew around trying to assess the damage on the airplane. He then returned to the airport and made an uneventful landing. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the right main landing gear and the right horizontal stabilizer.

On October 24, 1999, at 2145 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4776E, collided with a deer on takeoff from runway 29 at the Crandon Municipal Airport, Crandon, Wisconsin. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that he was about 1,300 feet down the runway during the takeoff roll when he saw a deer cross the runway about 75 yards in front of the airplane. He reported he watched for another deer, but did not see one. He continued the takeoff and shortly after lifting off, at an altitude of about 4 feet, he saw another deer. He reported be pulled back on the yoke to try and avoid the deer; however, the head of the deer contacted the right main landing gear. He reported, "The plane immediately dived. I pulled back on the yoke and reset my takeoff picture. The plane dived again and I yanked back and muscled the plane aloft." The pilot reported that once becoming airborne, he flew around trying to assess the damage on the airplane. He reported he was able to return to the airport where he made an uneventful landing.

Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the main right landing gear was damaged along with the right horizontal stabilizer. The accident occurred at night.