Introduction
An accident occurred when an airplane, operating on a business flight, landed on an open dirt area near Likely, California.
Circumstances
The airplane had departed San Jose Airport (SJC), San Jose, California. The pilot intentionally landed on the dirt area to obtain a soil sample.
Damage and Sequence
During the landing rollout, the airplane's left main landing gear struck a rock and separated. Subsequently, the left wing contacted the ground and sustained damage.
Reporting
According to the pilot's report to the Reno, Nevada FAA Flight Standards District Office, no airplane malfunctions or failures preceded the accident. The pilot did not complete an accident report but reported the circumstances verbally.