What happened
The pilot initiated an attempt to land the aircraft on a dirt road with the specific intent of inspecting cattle located in an adjacent field. During the landing rollout, the main landing gear sank into the soft terrain, causing the airplane to yaw approximately 30 degrees to the left. The pilot then attempted to execute a go-around maneuver but was unable to recover control or gain sufficient altitude. Consequently, the airplane impacted a small tree and came to rest on its nose.
The investigation
The factual narrative indicates that the primary mechanical failure was not due to equipment malfunction but rather the interaction between the landing gear and the unstable ground surface. The soft terrain prevented normal rollout dynamics, leading to the loss of directional control.
Findings
The incident highlights the risks associated with off-airport landings on unprepared surfaces. Soft terrain played a critical role in the loss of control during the landing phase. The inability to execute a successful go-around after gear collapse underscores the difficulty of recovering from such situations on non-standard runways.