Incident Overview
A pilot on final approach with landing flaps at low altitude encountered deer running in front of the airplane. Believing a collision was imminent, the pilot abruptly pulled back on the control wheel and added power. The pitch-up occurred before the engine responded, and the stall horn sounded momentarily. The airplane then descended nose-down and struck the ground approximately 150 feet short of the runway, sliding for 100 feet.
Damage Assessment
The impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse, the lower fuselage to be crushed, and the firewall to be wrinkled.
Witness Account
A witness reported that the final approach path passed over a corn field where deer had been observed previously.
Pilot Report and Performance Data
The pilot stated that the stall horn sounded briefly before the airplane descended. According to the landing distance chart in the airplane's Owner's Manual, the aircraft could have crossed the runway threshold at 50 feet and still stopped within the remaining runway length.