Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s encounter with an unknown hole in the runway during the landing roll.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that after an uneventful landing, the airplane drifted approximately 20 feet to the left of the runway centerline during the landing roll on the gravel and turf runway. The pilot corrected back to the runway centerline just as the airplane’s nose landing gear dropped into a large unnoticed hole. The airplane came to an immediate stop and sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that after an uneventful landing, the airplane drifted approximately 20 feet to the left of the runway centerline during the landing roll on a gravel and turf runway. The pilot corrected back to the runway centerline just as the airplane’s nose landing gear dropped into a large unnoticed hole. The airplane came to an immediate stop and sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident.