NTSB: Field's Partial Fence Allowed Jet-Deer Collision

The collision between a Part 91-operated Learjet 35A and a deer at Michigan's Gross Ile Airport (ONZ) on June 22 this year stemmed in part from the failure of the airport's management to establish a continuous, as opposed to partial, fence between the runway and a nearby nature conservancy, according to the NTSB accident report.

The Learjet pilot reported that while accelerating through 130 knots on the takeoff roll, he felt a faint bump. The crew continued the takeoff but experienced difficulty controlling the airplane. The crew was able to stabilize the airplane in flight and reported no annunciations or warnings on the flight deck. They were, however, able to see damage on the right wing’s leading edge. The crew landed without incident at an alternate airport and reported that the aircraft had sustained substantial damage.

None of the four people aboard the business jet was injured. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft before the collision that would have precluded normal operation. A deer carcass was found on the departure runway at ONZ shortly after the Learjet’s departure.