Cessna A185F N4742E accident near Crystal Falls, Michigan

Probable cause

The pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid deer that unexpectedly ran into the airplane's path during the landing roll.

NTSB analysis

Two deer ran out of a wooded area and toward the runway from left to right in front of the airplane during the landing roll. The pilot applied left rudder in an attempt to avoid the deer, assuming they were going to continue across the runway. One of the deer continued across the runway. The other deer stopped on the runway and turned around to go back into the woods. The pilot applied right rudder in order to avoid the second deer and the airplane ground-looped. The left wing was substantially damaged when it contacted the ground during the ground loop.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA305 for the full record.