What happened
During a takeoff attempt on Runway 3, the aircraft encountered significant wind conditions, with local winds reported from the east at 25 knots and gusting to 50 knots. The pilot had configured the aircraft with flaps extended to 25 degrees (2nd notch) instead of the 10-degree (1st notch) setting.
Witnesses observed that the airplane became airborne early in the takeoff roll. While airborne, the aircraft encountered turbulence and gusty winds, which prevented it from achieving a climb. During this period, the landing gear made contact with brush and grass located on the upwind side of the runway.
In response to the situation, the pilot aborted the attempted takeoff. The aircraft subsequently touched down on soft terrain and came to a stop several hundred feet from the side of the runway. The impact resulted in collapsed landing gear. At the time of the event, the airport elevation was 5280 feet and the air temperature was approximately 52 degrees.