What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot stated that during the landing flare on the 900 feet long by 50 feet wide gravel airstrip, 28 miles west-northwest of Nikiski, a bear ran onto the landing area approximately 20 feet in front of the aircraft with one wheel already touched down. The pilot said she maneuvered to the right side of the runway and applied power to avoid the bear. The right wing contacted brush, and the airplane was pulled off the right side of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wingtips and the tail assembly. The pilot did state that she overflew the strip to determine wind (mild) and that the approach was normal, landing within the first 1/4 of the runway threshold. We discussed options, however, she stated that she felt that there was no other option due to the close proximity of the bear to her aircraft in an almost full touchdown condition.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING FLARE ON THE 900 FEET LONG BY 50 FEET WIDE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP, 28 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF NIKISKI, A BEAR RAN ONTO THE LANDING AREA APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH ONE WHEEL ALREADY TOUCHED DOWN. THE PILOT SAID SHE MANEUVERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND APPLIED POWER TO AVOID THE BEAR. THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED BRUSH, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS PULLED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGTIPS AND THE TAIL ASSEMBLY. THE PILOT DID STATE THAT SHE OVERFLEW THE STRIP TO DETERMINE WIND (MILD) AND THAT THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL, LANDING WITHIN THE FIRST 1/4 OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. WE DISCUSSED OPTIONS, HOWEVER, SHE STATED THAT SHE FELT THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE BEAR TO HER AIRCRAFT IN AN ALMOST FULL TOUCHDOWN CONDITION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.