Accident Overview
The accident occurred during the landing roll on a 2,465-foot-long, 30-foot-wide asphalt runway. As the airplane touched down, the left landing gear departed the runway surface and dug into soft terrain adjacent to the runway. This caused the airplane to make an abrupt left turn.
Pilot Actions
The pilot attempted to correct the unexpected left turn by applying right rudder. However, the rudder had no effect on the airplane's direction. The airplane continued off the runway surface, crossing a grass area before coming to rest in a ditch.
Examination
A post-accident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies with the flight controls or engine controls. The accident flight was the pilot's first flight in that make and model of airplane.