Landing Plane Kills 2 Elk On Runway In Rockaway Beach, Police Say

ROCKAWAY BEACH, OR — Two Washington residents were a little shook up this weekend after hitting two elk with their airplane. According to Oregon State Police, the elk ran onto the Nehalem Bay State Park airstrip just as the fixed-wing, single engine plane hit the runway.

No injuries were reported for either the pilot, Todd William Rudberg, 49, of Shoreline, Washington, or his passenger, Valerie Anne Villacin, 43, of Seattle. Both elk, however, were tragically killed.

Shortly before 5:15 p.m. Sept. 16, Rudberg was landing his 2003 Vans Aircraft Model RV8 at the Nehalem Bay airstrip and was in the process of slowing down when the first elk ran across the tarmac in front of the plane. Though he attempted to accelerate and regain the air, there was too little time and Rudberg struck the animal with the plane's propeller and right-side landing gear, killing it, police said.

In the same moments, presumably as the plane resumed its landing, a second elk entered the runway area and was struck by the plane's left wing, police said. The second hit caused the plane to spin around on the ground before coming to a stop. The aircraft was totaled in the accident, police said.

A large quantity of elk meat was salvaged by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials, police said. Oregonian reporter Amiee Green said the meat was donated to charity.

Photos Courtesy: Oregon State Police