Small plane hits elk during takeoff

WARRENTON, OREGON - A six-seat airplane owned by a Georgia company hit an elk while taking off from Astoria Regional Airport early Tuesday morning and erupted in a fireball, an airport official said. <br> <br> Four people were on board, but no one was injured in the crash, said Ron Larsen, airport manager. The LearJet 36 was a civilian plane under contract for the Canadian military and was leaving on a scheduled mission, he said. <br> <br> Passengers included three civilians and one military official, Larsen said. <br> <br> ``They were able to get the aircraft under control and went off the end of the runway and the aircraft did catch fire, but everybody&#39;s out OK,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> The rural airport had planned to install a fence next summer to keep out the wandering herds of elk that migrate through the area, Larsen said. <br> <br> ``We&#39;ve had elk on this airport for years&#39;&#39; but they&#39;ve never caused a crash, he said. <br> <br> The plane was owned by Phoenix Air, a private company headquartered in Cartersville, Ga. <br> <br> Officials declined to give more details about the plane&#39;s mission or flight plans.