17th of September 2024, Elk, Blog #720
- V2Aviation
- Sep 16, 2025
- 2 min read
With a crew of two and two passengers a Raytheon Aircraft Company B200 was operating a FAA Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Discretionary) night flight. After take-off from Albuquerque International Airport (New Mexico) the aircraft set course to Las Vegas (Municipal) Airport (New Mexico).
As the aircraft approached its destination the weather was good with VMC conditions.
Clouds - Clear below 12.000 ft AGL
Wind - 130º at 5 knots
Temperature - 13ºC
Dewpoint - 10ºC
Altimeter setting 30.20 inHg (1023 mbar)
The flight had been uneventful, and the aircraft was cleared for a VFR approach to runway 14 at Las Vegas (Municipal) Airport. With the aircraft properly configured and on a stabilised approach, the flight was cleared to land. When crossing the 1000 ft markers on the runway, just before touchdown, an animal appeared from the left out of the darkness. At a speed of approximately 90 knots, the aircraft hit the animal with the left propeller, after which it collided with the left-hand main landing gear, which failed as a result of the impact.
The crew quickly selected full reverse on the right-hand engine and applied a right rudder input to keep the aircraft centred on the runway . This attempt was unsuccessful, and the aircraft veered to the left off the runway. Once the aircraft came to a stop, the crew shut the aircraft down and evacuated the aircraft, with the passengers through the main cabin door. Crew and passengers were checked and cleared by medical staff; there were no injuries. The crew was informed they had hit an Elk.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left-hand wing Based on the data provided by the crew on the NTSB Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the NTSB concluded that the cause of the accident was:
The airplanes collision with an Elk"
The NTSB report, which served as the source for this blog, can be accessed by clicking on the .pdf file below;
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