What happened
The pilot was operating a flight to a private dirt airstrip. During the final approach phase for landing, environmental conditions significantly impacted visibility. The sun was positioned directly in the pilot's line of sight, creating intense glare that obscured critical visual references on the ground.
Due to this obstruction, the pilot failed to detect a three-foot-high mound of dirt located near the runway threshold. As the aircraft descended, the left main landing gear struck the elevated earth formation. The impact force was sufficient to cause the left main gear assembly to shear completely from the airframe.
Following touchdown on the remaining right gear, the aircraft lost directional control and veered sharply to the left. It departed the paved surface and entered a concrete ditch adjacent to the runway area.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site confirmed that the primary mechanical failure originated from the impact with the terrain obstacle. The three-foot dirt mound near the threshold was identified as the direct cause of the structural failure of the landing gear. No pre-existing mechanical defects were noted in the narrative provided.