Incident Overview
The airplane experienced a loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a collision with a ditch. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down at an airspeed between 80 and 85 knots. After a brief landing roll, the pilot tapped the brakes, causing the airplane to pull to the left toward the grass. The pilot then pulled back on the control yoke and applied light brakes as the airplane continued toward the grass.
Sequence of Events
Upon observing a drainage ditch perpendicular to the runway, the pilot applied power and pulled back on the controls in an attempt to clear the ditch. The airplane contacted the ditch, at which point the landing gear collapsed.
Brake Inspection
Following the accident, an inspection of the airplane's brakes revealed no mechanical failure or malfunction. Skid marks on the runway matched the track of the right main gear and the nose gear. No tracks from the left main gear were visible until a point where the airplane had traveled into the grass.
Pilot's Recommendation
The pilot offered a recommendation on how the accident could have been avoided: "Reduce landing touchdown speed, and after landing allow aircraft to run out and burn off speed naturally before applying brakes."
Conclusion
The accident report does not assign a probable cause or identify any contributing factors beyond the described events.