September 5, 2011, Roundup, Mon., Cessna 182D Skylane

Prior to landing on a dirt road, the pilot overflew the area, noting a group of cows nearby. During the landing flare, the pilot observed a cow approaching the flight path from his left to right and attempted to maneuver the airplane to avoid a collision.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • During landing, the aircraft struck a cow that approached its flight path after the pilot attempted an evasive maneuver.
  • The collision caused the airplane to immediately veer left, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent bounce.
  • Post-incident examination revealed structural damage to the left elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and engine firewall.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Prior to landing on a dirt road, the pilot overflew the area, noting a group of cows nearby. During the landing flare, the pilot observed a cow approaching the flight path from his left to right and attempted to maneuver the airplane to avoid a collision. Subsequently, the left main landing gear struck the cow and the airplane immediately veered to the left. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the airplane continued to the left, landed hard, bounced and settled back onto the ground. Examination revealed structural damage to the left elevator, horizontal stabilizer and engine firewall.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE