Incident Overview
A solo student pilot reported that during a visual meteorological conditions flight in daytime, while in the landing flare, he observed a deer at the intended touchdown point. He banked right and applied power to execute a go-around. However, during the right turn, he was unable to clear a line of trees in his flight path. The landing gear scraped one line of trees, and to avoid a thicker line ahead, the pilot forced the airplane down into a marsh area.
Aircraft Damage
The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage as a result of the forced landing in the marsh.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Airport Environment
During a postaccident interview, an airport representative reported that the airport does not have a perimeter fence. The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement airport page for the accident airport states in part: "Deer and birds on and invof [in the vicinity of] arpt."
Student Pilot Actions
The student pilot's decision to bank and apply power for a go-around was prompted by the presence of a deer on the runway. After striking the initial tree line, he opted to force the airplane down rather than risk contact with a denser tree line ahead.