What happened
During the landing phase, the pilot experienced an unexpected departure from normal ground handling. According to the pilot's statement, the left wing dropped immediately after the aircraft touched down on the runway. This event was attributed to a flat tire on the left main landing gear.
In response to the wing drop, the pilot attempted to raise the affected wing to level the aircraft. This control input caused the aircraft to bounce upward and become airborne once more. The aircraft then returned to the runway surface with a hard touchdown.
Post-accident inspection confirmed the pilot's account. The left main tire was found to have a large flat spot on its tread. A witness at the scene reported observing smoke emanating from the left main tire at the moment of initial touchdown, indicating significant friction and heat buildup prior to the structural failure of the tire.
The investigation
The physical evidence gathered after the event supported the narrative provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the landing gear assembly and found that the left main tire sustained a large flat spot. This damage was consistent with the witness report of smoke coming from the tire during the initial contact with the runway surface.