What happened
The incident occurred during the landing roll of an aircraft. As the pilot was taxiing down the runway, he noticed a deer positioned off the left side of the paved surface. In an effort to avoid striking the animal, the pilot applied additional engine power to pass the deer safely.
Shortly after this maneuver, the pilot experienced and heard a loud bang. Immediately following this event, the airplane began to veer toward the right side of the runway. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct the aircraft's path with control inputs, the plane continued off the runway surface.
The investigation
A physical examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the extent of the damage. Inspectors found that the vertical stabilizer had been severely compromised. The structure was bent at an approximate 45-degree angle from its normal position.