Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that he was landing at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. After touchdown and during the landing rollout, the airplane veered to the left and would not respond to his rudder or aileron control inputs. The pilot applied full engine power in an attempt to fly over a pile of debris adjacent to the runway, but impacted the debris with the propeller, nose landing gear, and left main landing gear. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left main landing gear tire was flat and that the left wing spar had sustained substantial damage.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he was conducting a normal landing at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. The touchdown was normal, but during the landing rollout, the airplane veered to the left and would not respond to rudder or aileron control inputs. The pilot applied full engine power to clear a pile of debris off the left side of the runway, but impacted the debris with the propeller, nose landing gear, and left main landing gear. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left main landing gear tire was flat, and the left wing spar had sustained substantial damage.