Probable cause
The inadvertent collision with a deer during landing.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, during a day landing at a non-tower-controlled airport, the airplane had just touched down and was traveling at about 60 mph when the pilot saw four deer running across the runway. He reported that he had no time to react and could not avoid hitting one of the deer. The collision resulted in a rupture of the fuel cell in the wing, and substantial damage to the wing spar, engine compartment firewall, and lower fuselage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA337 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 8, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Vinton, Iowa
- Nearest airport
- Vinton Veterans Memorial (VTI)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built VANS RV-7A
- N-number
- N717JR
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.