Incident Overview
During a departure attempt in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, a deer was observed approaching the runway from the left. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft to the left in an effort to avoid the animal as it crossed. This action caused the airplane to depart the left side of the runway.
Sequence of Events
After leaving the runway surface, the pilot was unable to bring the aircraft to a stop. The airplane continued rolling and subsequently collided with an embankment. The impact collapsed the main landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Damage Assessment
The collision with the embankment led to the structural failure of the main landing gear. The fuselage sustained significant damage due to the force of the impact.
Contributing Circumstances
The presence of a deer on the runway during the departure roll necessitated the pilot's evasive action, which ultimately led to the runway excursion and subsequent collision.