What happened
During the final phase of a landing operation, the aircraft successfully touched down on the runway. Shortly after touchdown, deer entered the active runway area, prompting the pilot to initiate an abort of the landing and execute a go-around maneuver.
The pilot reported that during this critical phase, the engine power did not increase at the expected rate. Due to the insufficient thrust response, the decision was made to discontinue the go-around attempt. As the aircraft continued its roll-out along the runway, it departed the paved surface and encountered soft, sandy terrain adjacent to the runway edge.
The impact with the uneven ground resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear. This mechanical failure led to significant structural damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site and aircraft revealed that the primary sequence of events was triggered by wildlife on the runway. The pilot's account indicated a delay in power application during the go-around attempt. The subsequent departure from the runway surface onto soft terrain directly contributed to the failure of the nose landing gear.
Findings
The investigation identified several contributing factors:
- Wildlife intrusion onto the active runway immediately after touchdown.
- Delayed power response reported by the pilot during the go-around initiation.
- Departure from the paved runway surface onto soft, sandy terrain.
- Collapse of the nose landing gear due to ground contact with uneven surfaces.
The structural damage was consistent with the forces generated by leaving the runway and impacting soft ground.