Alon A2 accident near Sandpoint, Idaho, June 17, 2008
On June 17, 2008 at about 4:30 am local time, a Alon A2, registered N1018S, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Sandpoint, Idaho (Sandpoint Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane struck a deer on the runway while performing touch-and-go landings. Contributing to the accident was the dusk light condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2008 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Sandpoint, Idaho · Sandpoint Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon A2 · all A2s on the register
- Registration
- N1018S · no longer on the register · serial A-202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was performing touch-and-go landings on runway 01. Following the third landing, right at liftoff on departure (70 to 75 mph), the right wing struck a deer. The airplane veered right, and the pilot was unable to regain control. The airplane impacted the airport's perimeter fence. Both wings were damaged, the empennage was nearly separated from the fuselage, and the empennage was broken at two locations. The sun had set approximately 40 minutes before the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Not specified
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Low light › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 208 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZT Sandpoint ID at 4:00 am
- Destination: SZT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 5,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 am from SZT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.