What happened
The private certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 regulations. The flight concluded with an approach toward the south on a remote airstrip characterized by a gravel surface. The strip was notably short and narrow, measuring approximately 1,000 feet in length and about 50 feet in width.
During the landing roll, the left main landing gear struck a ditch that extended approximately 20 feet into the runway area. This impact resulted in the left main landing gear being torn off the airframe. Following the gear failure, the airplane slid off the paved surface and came to rest in an adjacent area of trees.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the airplane sustained significant structural damage. The wings and fuselage were damaged as a result of the impact with the ditch and subsequent slide into the wooded area. No further mechanical anomalies were noted beyond the gear failure caused by the terrain obstacle.