What happened
The pilot reported that he was conducting a landing operation on a dirt runway with a width of only 50 feet. During the landing roll, the aircraft began to drift toward the left side of the strip. As it drifted, the left wing made contact with wheat growing along the edge of the field. This collision caused the aircraft to swerve further to the left. During this uncontrolled swerve, the right main landing gear failed, and both wings sustained damage.
The investigation
The examination of the event focused on the sequence of events during the landing roll. The primary mechanical failure identified was the collapse of the right main landing gear. This failure occurred in conjunction with structural damage to the wings. The initial trigger for the loss of control was the left wing striking vegetation along the runway edge.
Findings
Several factors contributed to this accident. The narrow width of the dirt strip limited the pilot's ability to correct the aircraft's path. The presence of wheat growing immediately adjacent to the runway edge created a hazard for any lateral drift. The failure of the right main landing gear was a direct result of the forces generated during the swerve after the initial wing strike.