What happened
The pilot departed from a private airstrip located near Sentinel Butte, ND, with a destination of Beach, ND. During the flight, the pilot observed a narrow cloud formation ahead, measuring approximately 5 to 8 miles in length, which was emitting lightning. Although the pilot did not believe the cloud presented a threat to flight safety and did not fly under it, the aircraft encountered sudden turbulence that caused the wings to roll into a vertical position.
Following this-turbulence, the aircraft entered a downdraft. In an attempt to maintain control, the pilot applied full power and configured the aircraft with one notch of flaps. During the subsequent descent, the aircraft brushed against treetops and struck a hill, which resulted in the loss of the right main landing gear. The aircraft then impacted the ground and skidded into another hill. The impact caused the fuel tank to rupture, leading to an aircraft fire. The pilot was not injured during the accident.