What happened
Following a landing at Rorona-Rogers Field (also known as 30 Mile Drome), the aircraft deviated from the runway centerline and veered to the right. The pilot immediately applied full power in an attempt to regain flying speed and return to the paved surface. However, the surrounding terrain consisted of tall kunai grass, which significantly increased drag and prevented the airplane from accelerating sufficiently. During this maneuver, the right main landing gear struck a concealed trench in the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to come to rest off the runway. The pilot exited the wreckage with minor injuries. The airplane sustained damage that was assessed as beyond repair.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to the accident was the inability of the aircraft to regain flying speed due to the high drag generated by the tall kunai grass on the ground. Additionally, the presence of a concealed trench in the off-runway area resulted in structural damage when the landing gear struck it.