Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after takeoff, he contacted the control tower at his destination airport. The tower controller informed him of weather located approximately 5 miles west. The pilot stated that he assumed this was the same weather described during an earlier conversation with the same tower.
Approach and Encounter
As the airplane approached the runway for landing, the pilot was advised of a wind shift and a runway change. When the airplane was between 300 and 400 feet above the ground, the wind jolted the airplane, pushing it down sharply. The pilot described a second and then a third downdraft. The third downdraft forced the airplane onto the ground north of the runway.
Post-Accident Conditions
Following the accident, the pilot reported that the rain and wind were intense. At 1915 CDT, tower personnel reported thunderstorms with heavy rain showers and 3/4 mile visibility.