Incident Overview
A pilot reported that a short cross-country flight was uneventful until the landing phase. After touchdown at the destination airport, the airplane began to drift to the left during the rollout. The pilot applied right rudder pressure in an attempt to control the drift, but as airspeed decreased, weight transferred from the wings to the landing gear, making directional control difficult.
Runway Excursion and Impact
The airplane subsequently departed the runway surface. During the excursion, the left wing struck an airport sign. The pilot exited the airplane and discovered that the left main tire was flat.
Post-Incident Inspection
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft. The inspection revealed that the left wing had sustained damage to its rib and spar structure. Further examination of the left main tire confirmed that it was flat and could not retain air when filled.
Sequence of Events
No abnormalities were reported prior to landing. The loss of directional control occurred only after landing, coinciding with the reduction in airspeed and the transfer of weight to the landing gear. The flat tire likely compromised the airplane's ability to maintain a straight path during rollout.