On April 1, 1990, a Piper J-3 (registration N7363H) was involved in an aviation accident near Creston, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE INADVERTENT INTRUSION OF WILDLIFE ON THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT AND THE PILOT'S APPLICATION OF BRAKES RESULTING IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND PROPELLER STRIKE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Piper J3 nosed down during landing roll after a deer startled the pilot. The aircraft sustained substantial left wing damage; no mechanical issues were reported.
Accident Details
A Piper J3 aircraft nosed down during the landing roll at a private airstrip after the pilot was startled by a deer. According to the pilot, he had departed another private airstrip approximately 7 miles from his destination and flew in the local area before approaching his destination. During the landing touchdown on the runway threshold, a deer sprinted from a slope adjacent to the runway, startling him. The pilot applied the aircraft brakes, causing the nose to pitch down and the propeller to strike the ground. The aircraft remained on the ground, spun to the left, and departed the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.
Pilot Statement
The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft before the accident.