Incident Overview
A pilot of a tricycle landing gear-equipped airplane reported a runway excursion during the landing roll. According to the pilot, the touchdown occurred on the main landing gear first, and he held the nose landing gear off the runway as long as possible. While keeping the nose gear elevated, the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot slowly applied brakes in response.
Sequence of Events
When the nose landing gear contacted the runway, the airplane was already positioned too far to the left side of the runway. The pilot continued to apply brakes, but noted that increased brake pressure caused the airplane to drift further left. He then reduced the throttle and attempted to shut off the fuel. Shortly after, the airplane struck a drainage culvert, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall.
Mechanical Examination
The pilot was uncertain whether a mechanical anomaly contributed to the loss of directional control. A Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector examined the airplane and found no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the brake system.
Contributing Factors
No specific causal factors were identified in the source material. The pilot's actions during the landing roll were described, but no analysis of their effect was provided.