On July 6, 2006, an Aviat A-1 (registration N70HU) was involved in an aviation accident near Watervliet, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The presence of the deer on the runway which resulted in the pilot taking evasive action leading to the nose-over. A factor was the excessive braking by the pilot. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane nosed over during landing on a private grass airstrip after the pilot applied brakes to avoid a deer that entered the runway.
Accident Details
The airplane was damaged when it nosed over during landing on a private grass airstrip. According to the pilot, the landing was conducted at the private strip to give a ride to a person. The pilot performed a flyby of the airstrip to check its condition and then entered a normal traffic pattern.
Landing and Deer Encounter
The pilot reported touching down "very early on the runway." During the landing roll, a deer came onto the runway from an adjacent field. Upon seeing the deer, the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane then flipped over onto its back.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that there were no problems with the airplane. He estimated the runway to be 800 feet long and 75 feet wide.