http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2017/09/small_plane_slams_into_2_elk_a.html

Roger Hoyt <<miraclepieco>>
sends:

On September 16, 2017 Oregon State Police responded to a report of
a small aircraft collision on the Nehalem Bay State Park airstrip.

Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 5:14pm, a crash
involving an aircraft occurred on the airstrip at Nehalem Bay State Park. The
involved pilot was identified as Todd William Rudberg, age 49, from Shoreline,
Washington. There was one additional passenger in the plane identified as
Valerie Anne Villacin, age 43, from Seattle, Washington.

The aircraft was a 2003 Vans Aircraft Model RV8, single engine, fixed wing plane
belonging to Mr. Rudberg. The crash occurred when Mr. Rudberg attempted to land
the plane. He had fully touched down on the airstrip and was slowing down when
an elk ran in front of the plane. He attempted to speed up and relaunch the
plane in order to fly over the elk without hitting it. The propeller and right
side landing gear struck the elk and killed it. Another elk ran in front of the
plane and was struck by the left wing. The second elk was also killed. The plane
spun around and came to a stop on the airstrip. The plane was totaled as a
result of the crash and none of the occupants were injured. The FAA has
temporarily closed the Nehalem Bay State Park Airstrip and will be conducting an
investigation of the incident.

Troopers from the Oregon State Police - Tillamook Worksite responded and
investigated the incident. Assisting the Oregon State Police were Nehalem Bay
Fire and Rescue, the Manzanita Department of Public Safety, and employees of
Nehalem Bay State Park. A large quantity of elk meat was salvaged by the
responding Fish and Wildlife troopers.