Incident Summary
A pilot reported that upon arrival in the Hawthorne area, the winds reported by UNICOM were extremely variable at 27 knots gusting to 35 knots. The UNICOM operator initially recommended runway 28, then runway 15, and finally settled on runway 23 as the best option for the wind conditions.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that everything was normal through the wheel landing, but during the transition to a three-point attitude, the wind shifted approximately 40 degrees to the left. In an effort to avoid a ground loop, the pilot went off the runway to the right. Just after departing the runway, the right main wheel encountered soft sand, which caused the aircraft to nose over onto its back.