The Italian was competing in the heats of her ski cross race in Pyeongchang with only the top two going through to the quarter-finals.
Pixner looked set to comfortably secure her spot behind race winner Brittany Phelan into the next round when disaster struck on the final jump.
As the 25-year-old landed on the final stretch she took a heavy tumble as her legs buckled to send her hurtling towards the finishing line.
But lucky for her, she had just enough momentum to carry herself over the line while on the floor to just pip Victoria Zavadovskaya into second place.
The quarter-final was to be Pixner’s last race in Pyeonchang though as she finished third behind Alize Baron and Phelan.
WINTER OLYMPICS: SKIER INDIA SHERRETT SUFFERS NASTY FALL
Canada’s Kelsey Serwa claimed gold in the final ahead of compatriot Phelan and Switzerland’s Fanny Smith.
“It is very surreal to be the best in the world at something you put your heart into,” Serwa said.
“I had a plan and executed it, and was so fired up.”
Canada have now won the event all three times it has featured at the Olympics.
Competing at her first Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s Emily Sarsfield was knocked out in the quarter-finals having self funded and self-coached for all but the past six months of her 12 years on the ski circuit.
“I have funded it by setting up a ski school. I have worked multiple jobs through the summer,” the 35-year-old said.
“It’s a different route to my peers but it just makes me that little bit more hungry.
“Luckily British Ski and Snowboard employed a coach six months ago and he is with me here today, but for 11 and a half years I was basically learning this sport by copying what people were doing on videos and giving it a shot myself.”