What happened
Upon touchdown, the pilot observed the aircraft beginning to drift to the left. Efforts to correct the movement using right rudder were unsuccessful. As the leftward drift continued, the pilot applied the right brake, increasing pressure until it was pushing against the seat.
Despite these efforts, the aircraft continued to veer left, with the turn radius tightening throughout the excursion. The aircraft eventually rotated more than 180 degrees counter-clockwise. During this rotation, the aircraft settled to the left, aligning with the runway lights, and came to a complete stop.
The investigation
A post-crash examination conducted by a certified mechanic determined that the left main landing gear shock strut tube had separated at its attachment point to the left main wheel assembly. This separation allowed the left main landing gear to release and pivot into a collapsed, flat position.