Incident Overview
A pilot reported that his airplane overturned during taxi before takeoff when a strong gust of wind caught the right wing. The incident occurred on a two-lane county road with loose gravel, oriented east-west. The pilot was preparing to depart to the east.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, while taxiing on the gravel road, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind that caused it to slide sideways. As the airplane reached the left side of the road, the wind 'got under the right wing and turned the plane over onto the top.' The airplane came to rest in a ditch on the north side of the road.
Environmental Conditions
The winds at the time were reported from the south-southeast at 10 to 15 miles per hour. The road surface consisted of loose gravel, which may have contributed to the loss of directional control when the gust struck.