NTSB Factual Report

On July 27, 2005, about 2150 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5B, N28860, was substantially damaged when it struck a deer while landing at Minute Man Air Field (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, which departed Buffalo-Lancaster Airport (BQR), Lancaster, New York, about 1915.

According to a written statement submitted by the pilot, the airplane touched down about 500 feet from the approach end of runway 21. About 2 - 4 seconds later, the pilot saw a brown and white deer bounding toward the runway, from left to right. The pilot yelled out, "Deer!", then lost sight of it. She thought that it may have run behind the airplane, but subsequently felt a left "pull" on the rudder pedals. The airplane continued straight, and the subsequent rollout and taxi were uneventful.

After parking the airplane, examination revealed that the left wing had incurred substantial damage. The pilot and her passenger subsequently drove their automobile up and down the runway, but could not find the deer.

NTSB Probable Cause

An inadvertent collision with a deer during the landing roll. A factor was the night lighting conditions.