NTSB Factual Report

On August 31, 2001, at 1947 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N19302, was struck by a deer while landing on runway 09 (2,146 feet by 56 feet, asphalt) at the Blackhawk Airfield, Madison, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the empennage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Blackhawk Airfield at 1915.

The pilot reported that the passenger reported seeing a small deer off the right side of the runway when the airplane was in the landing flare. The pilot reported that just prior to the nose touching down he heard a loud sound which he likened to a low frequency clunk. He reported that he did not have any difficulty in controlling the airplane during the remainder of the landing. The passenger reported to the pilot that she looked back and saw a deer climbing to its feet and running into the brush beside the runway. The pilot taxied to the ramp and upon inspecting the airplane he discovered "...the empennage had been destabilized to the right. There was remnant of animal fur on the left lateral leading edge of left stabilizers."

NTSB Probable Cause

The deer which struck the empennage of the airplane during the landing flare.