What happened
The pilot was conducting practice touch-and-go landings when an issue arose during the landing roll. The pilot reported that the left brake became locked while the aircraft was on the ground. In response to this mechanical failure, the pilot applied opposite rudder input in an attempt to maintain directional control and keep the aircraft on the runway.
Despite these corrective efforts, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway surface. The plane continued its trajectory until it struck a ditch located adjacent to the airfield. The impact with the ditch caused significant structural damage, specifically resulting in the collapse of the landing gear assembly.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft's landing gear and braking systems. The examination was designed to determine if a mechanical defect or malfunction had contributed to the brake locking event. However, the inspection did not reveal any evidence of a pre-existing malfunction within the gear or brake mechanisms.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the failure of the left brake during the landing roll. The subsequent loss of directional control led to the runway excursion and collision with the ditch. The investigation confirmed that no mechanical malfunction was found in the inspected systems, suggesting the brake lock may have been an isolated event or related to operational factors not evident in the post-accident inspection.