Accident Overview
A pilot conducting a landing maneuver collided with a calf on the runway, resulting in collapsed nose landing gear and loss of control. The aircraft subsequently left the runway and went over a drop-off.
Sequence of Events
The pilot executed a pass from south to north along the runway and then entered left traffic for landing to the north. During the pass and downwind leg, the pilot looked for obstructions on the runway but did not see any. After touchdown, while lowering the nose, the pilot observed cattle on the runway. He attempted to abort the landing and swerved to avoid the animals. As he raised the nose landing gear off the ground, the nose of the airplane and the nose gear struck a large calf, causing the gear to collapse. The calf became entangled in the gear, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and went over a drop-off.
Investigation Findings
Investigation revealed that the cattle had entered the runway over a cattle guard that was filled with rocks and dirt, allowing them to bypass the barrier.