Field research encounter ran away - but it didn't?

Sounds like a one off, phone lag, glitch in the matrix, random bug. Noticed a few glitches over the last few days myself. Nothing catastrophic.

This did happen to me recently, though mine was not field research.

I encountered a CP137 Wailmer and tpss a regular ball at it only to see it break and run. That was pretty surprising in itself because its a wailmer and I've only seen individuals over 1000 cp run.

The screen immediately exits back to the map view, as it does in a flee situation. But one of my research tasks ticks pops up and shows that i have completed 'catch 10 pokemon'. So I am confused about whether or not I caught the wailmer.

And like you, it was in my inventory.

I had the same happening with a Feebas, but I think it had something to do with a reception loss midcatch.

Research encounter pokemon can't flee, so if it seems to have fled, it'll either go back to your encounter queue or be in your inventory having actually been caught. This has been verified by multiple people during a catch ban where everything will flee, including encounters, but those encounters will still be there for catching later.

The entire day yesterday (day 6 in research quest) Prof Willow appeared and told me I was doing great progress, “let’s see what we have found...”. Happened every time I finished research with Pokemon appearance. One time I even got the 7th day box but it wouldn’t open. Today everything is normal.

its a random bug happed to me in a lv 4 raid first ball went to run away. it was in my invatory

Had this happen to research encounter pinsir once. I think it happens periodically. Maybe the opposite of critical catch but the encounter doesn’t flee overrides it in the end.