Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during landing, he initially flared too high. After recovering, the aircraft touched down firmly on the main landing gear. Subsequently, the aircraft began to veer to the right, described by the pilot as if the right brake was locked. The pilot attempted to abort the landing, and the aircraft pancaked into a dune adjacent to the runway.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that the aircraft touched down "firmly" on the main gear. He then observed the veer to the right and attempted to abort. The aircraft came to rest in a dune beside the runway.
Mechanical Findings
A mechanic who examined the airplane afterward reported that the pilot told him the airplane had landed hard. The mechanic found that the right wheel axle was bent, which had resulted in the forward side of the tire being displaced outward. No evidence of brake malfunction was found.
Time and Lighting
The airport facility directory indicated that the airport had no runway lights and was closed 30 minutes after sunset. According to the National Weather Service, local sunset occurred at 1835. The pilot reported the time of the accident as 1930, while a sheriff's deputy who investigated reported it occurred at about 1955.