CHI95LA033

Factual narrative

On November 8, 1994, at 1820 central standard time, a Cessna 150, N9143U, was substantially damaged when it struck two deer while landing at Tomahawk Regional Airport, Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 local pleasure flight originated from Tomahawk, Wisconsin, at 1630 without flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. According to the pilot, he saw a deer on the threshold of runway 09 as he was preparing to land. The deer moved to the side of the runway and pilot decided to land the airplane after he did not see anymore deer on the runway. The pilot stated the runway lights and the airplane's landing lights were on at the time. During the landing flare, two deer suddenly appeared off to the right of the airplane. In an effort to avoid striking the deer, the pilot pulled the nose of the airplane up. The airplane's main landing gear struck the two deer. After the initial impact, one of the deer was thrown into the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot was able to land the airplane without further incident. WHILE FLARING THE AIRPLANE FOR TOUCHDOWN, TWO DEER SUDDENLY APPEARED OFF TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID STRIKING THE DEER, THE PILOT PULLED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE UP. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE DEER. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT, ONE OF THE DEER WAS THROWN INTO THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12