Event Description
On the day of the accident, the pilot was performing a series of touch-and-go landings in variable gusty wind conditions. The stated purpose was to maintain proficiency on a gusty day. After three successful touch-and-go landings, the pilot decided to make the next landing a full-stop termination of the flight.
During the subject landing, the wind shifted from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind. Although the touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll the aircraft suddenly started turning toward the side of the runway. The pilot applied control inputs in an attempt to keep the aircraft on the runway, but his inputs were not adequate to overcome the effects of the varying wind conditions. Consequently, the aircraft departed the side of the runway.
Go-Around and Damage
The pilot then added full power in order to regain control and execute a go-around. During that sequence of events, the aircraft's left wing contacted the ground and the left horizontal stabilizer impacted a runway marker. The pilot was then able to complete the go-around, whereupon he flew a normal traffic pattern and returned for a subsequent full-stop landing.
Post-Flight Inspection
After taxiing to his hangar and shutting the aircraft down, the pilot discovered damage to the airframe. Examination revealed no evidence of any anomaly in the flight control or wheel brake systems.