What happened
A certificated private pilot was performing a landing to the south on a 600-foot long gravel airstrip. As the pilot approached for touchdown, the winds—which had previously been perceived as fairly calm—suddenly increased to an estimated 45 miles per hour from the south-southeast.
During this period, a strong downdraft pushed the aircraft toward the ground. This caused the main landing gear to strike the airstrip, subsequently forcing the nose of the airplane down. The pilot was not injured during the event.
The investigation
The inspection of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to several structural components, including both wing spars, both landing gear attach points, and the lower fuselage longerons. Prior to the accident, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies associated with the airplane.