What happened
On the day of the accident, the pilot was conducting a series of touch-and-go landings to maintain proficiency during variable and gusty wind conditions. Following three successful touch-and-go maneuvers, the pilot decided to terminate the flight with a full-stop landing.
During this landing, the wind shifted from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind. While the initial touchdown was uneventful, the aircraft began turning toward the side of the runway during the landing roll. The pilot attempted to apply control inputs to maintain the runway centerline, but these inputs were insufficient to counteract the effects of the changing wind conditions, resulting in the aircraft departing the side of the runway.
In an attempt to regain control and execute a go-around, the pilot applied full power. During this sequence, the left wing of the aircraft contacted the ground, and the left horizontal stabilizer struck a runway marker. The pilot successfully completed the go-around, flew a normal traffic pattern, and returned for a subsequent full-stop landing. The damage to the airframe was discovered after the pilot taxied to the hangar and shut down the engine.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of any anomalies within the flight control or wheel brake systems.