What happened
The pilot was conducting a solo cross-country instructional flight when the aircraft departed the right side of the runway during the landing phase. Upon leaving the paved surface, the airplane entered a drainage ditch. The impact caused the aircraft to become airborne again briefly before it touched down a second time in an adjacent muddy field.
The investigation
Following the second touchdown, the nose gear collapsed under the stress of the uneven terrain and impact forces. This structural failure resulted in significant damage to several forward components of the airframe. Specifically, the propeller was damaged, along with the firewall and the lower section of the fuselage.
Findings
The sequence of events indicates that the initial runway excursion led directly to the secondary landing in soft ground. The collapse of the nose gear was a direct consequence of the aircraft leaving the controlled runway environment and impacting the ditch before settling into the field. No injuries were reported, as the pilot was the sole occupant.
Safety message
Runway excursions during landing can lead to uncontrolled impacts with terrain features such as ditches or embankments. Pilots must maintain precise control of aircraft position and speed during the final approach and touchdown phases to avoid leaving the paved surface, which can result in loss of directional control and structural damage.