What happened
The pilot departed with no wind conditions present at the time of takeoff. The intended destination was an agricultural spraying site. By the time the aircraft arrived at the location, weather conditions had changed, and wind was reported to be blowing from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
The pilot elected to land downwind on a rural road. Upon touchdown, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind. This sudden change in aerodynamic forces caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently departed the roadway, entered a ditch, and struck a bank.
The investigation
Investigation of the event focused on the weather conditions at the time of the accident and the physical path of the aircraft. The primary finding was the discrepancy between the calm winds at takeoff and the gusty conditions present during landing. The physical damage to the aircraft was consistent with a loss of control following touchdown in turbulent air.
Findings
The accident was caused by the pilot's decision to land downwind in gusty crosswind conditions on an unimproved surface. The gust of wind at touchdown exceeded the pilot's ability to maintain directional control, leading to the departure from the landing area.