Narrative:
A Learjet 35A, N62MB, was substantially damaged when its left wing collided with a deer during takeoff from runway 03 at the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, Wisconsin, USA. The flight crew and two passengers reported no injuries.
The airplane collided with a deer as the airplane reached its rotational speed for liftoff. The pilot said they climbed the airplane slowly, noting "...it took full right aileron and almost full right rudder to keep the aircraft level. As we accelerated the control forces required reduced rapidly." The pilot decided to fly the airplane to Milwaukee-General Mitchell International Airport, Wisconsin, because it had longer runways and better rescue equipment. The aircraft landed without incident.
Inspection of the airplane revealed that the middle-third of the left wing's leading edge was crushed aft about 3 to 4-inches. The wing fence's forward section was wrinkled to its mid-span location. The wing skin next to the leading edge damage was wrinkled to about the mid-chord area.
A deer that ran in front of the airplane during the takeoff phase. A factor in this accident was the lack of an airport perimeter fence to prevent deer from getting onto the runway.
Runway mishap
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 29 October 1997 |
| Time: | 12:00 |
| Type: |  Learjet 35A |
| Operator: | West Bend Air |
| Registration: | N62MB |
| MSN: | 35A-282 |
| First flight: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5787 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Sheboygan Memorial Airport, WI (SBM) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Sheboygan Memorial Airport, WI (SBM/KSBM), United States of America |
| Milwaukee-General Mitchell Airport, WI (MKE/KMKE), United States of America |
A Learjet 35A, N62MB, was substantially damaged when its left wing collided with a deer during takeoff from runway 03 at the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, Wisconsin, USA. The flight crew and two passengers reported no injuries.
The airplane collided with a deer as the airplane reached its rotational speed for liftoff. The pilot said they climbed the airplane slowly, noting "...it took full right aileron and almost full right rudder to keep the aircraft level. As we accelerated the control forces required reduced rapidly." The pilot decided to fly the airplane to Milwaukee-General Mitchell International Airport, Wisconsin, because it had longer runways and better rescue equipment. The aircraft landed without incident.
Inspection of the airplane revealed that the middle-third of the left wing's leading edge was crushed aft about 3 to 4-inches. The wing fence's forward section was wrinkled to its mid-span location. The wing skin next to the leading edge damage was wrinkled to about the mid-chord area.
Probable Cause:
A deer that ran in front of the airplane during the takeoff phase. A factor in this accident was the lack of an airport perimeter fence to prevent deer from getting onto the runway.
Classification:
Runway mishap
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Sheboygan Memorial Airport, WI to Milwaukee-General Mitchell Airport, WI as the crow flies is 91 km (57 miles).
Distance from Sheboygan Memorial Airport, WI to Milwaukee-General Mitchell Airport, WI as the crow flies is 91 km (57 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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