Accident Overview
A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight from Alliance to Cheyenne. The pilot flew locally at Cheyenne to perform three landings at a tower-controlled airport. While in the traffic pattern, a cumulonimbus cloud moved into the vicinity of the airport, and the winds became gusty.
Sequence of Events
After completing a landing on Runway 30, the pilot turned off to the left. A strong gust of wind then lifted the right wing and tail of the aircraft. As a result, the left wing and propeller contacted the ground.
Weather Conditions
Three minutes after the accident, the tower reported winds from 300 degrees at 34 knots with gusts to 38 knots.