CAA: GA News, "Deer on runway cause plane crash at West Virginia airport"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wednesday, October 16, 2002
 
Deer on runway cause plane crash at Mason Co. Airport
The Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch


POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. -- Deer on the runway of the Mason County Airport
were to blame for a plane crash that occurred shortly before 6 p.m.
Tuesday, said state police trooper F.E. Holcomb.

The owner of the plane, Don Wooden of Middleburg, Va., and the
passenger, David Morrison of Point Pleasant, were treated for minor
injuries at Pleasant Valley Hospital and released, Holcomb said. The
single-propeller plane with seating for four was a total loss, Holcomb
said.

"Basically, they were attempting to land, and a deer came out onto the
runway," he said. "They lost control and went into a few trees and a
wooded area. They may have hit two deer from what we can gather."

The pilot attempted to pull the plane up to avoid hitting the deer but
could not make the maneuver in time to prevent hitting them, Holcomb
said.

"From my understanding, (the airport) just got the funding to put up a
six-foot fence around the whole airport," he said. Holcomb has completed
an accident report, but an investigation by the Federal Aviation
Administration is still under way, he said.

The Mason County Airport is four miles north of Point Pleasant off W.Va.
62. The West Virginia Department of Transportation reports on its Web
site that there are deer near the runway.


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