Pilot hits deer while trying to land

MUNDELEIN, Ill. (CNN/WLS) - A pilot and his family are safe and sound after a scary landing in Illinois.

It had been an uneventful 45-minute flight back from a weekend trip to Michigan when they first tried to land at Campbell Airport in Grayslake. But just before touching down, a deer crossed the runway and darted back around.

The plane's pilot, John Olson, tried to pull up in time but clipped the deer with the left landing gear.

"Everything was clearing up beautifully, until our little Bambi decided to run across the runway there," said John.

Without a wheel on one side, there was danger that the twin engine plane would lean and spin out or flip over after touching the ground as John tried to land for a second time.

"I told everybody, 'Just make sure your seatbelts are tightened.' And I had everybody put the shoulder harnesses on. We just kind of all held hands and we were praying in the back like crazy," said Deb Olson, the pilot's wife.

John Olson kept the plane steady until it finally skidded to a stop with sparks flying, but no injuries.

"I don't think there's much you can do, other than stay focused. You're flying the plane in a sense. I mean, that's how you're trained. Fly it till it stops," said John.