Event GAA15CA108

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that while on final approach he was unable to see the runway clearly due to the setting sun, during the landing roll he reported that the airplane's left wing struck a deer. Subsequently the airplane veered off the runway to the left. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that while on final approach he was unable to see the runway clearly due to the setting sun, during the landing roll he reported that the airplane's left wing struck a deer. Subsequently the airplane veered off the runway to the left. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the left wing.  The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Awareness of condition - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on personnel