Incident Overview
During a 15-minute flight, a student pilot encountered light turbulence and windy conditions. While approaching midfield at the destination, the windsock indicated wind from the south. The pilot set up for a normal full-flaps approach to Runway 18. On final approach, the wind shifted to north-northeast.
Landing and Runway Excursion
Upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. Control corrections were not effective, and the aircraft skidded off the left side of the runway onto grass. It then impacted a dirt mound at a 90-degree angle. The airplane came to rest heading approximately 360 degrees.
Damage
The main landing gears were sheared off. The landing gear box sustained structural damage, and the fuselage was buckled adjacent to the passenger side doorframe.
Weather
The nearest full-service weather reporting facility, located about 36 miles east of the accident site, reported wind from 090 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots.