What happened
A scheduled Part 121 passenger flight was performing a straight-in approach to runway 16 at an ice-covered, gravel airstrip. During the landing roll, the pilot encountered gusty crosswind conditions, estimated at 20-25 knots.
A sudden gust of wind caused the aircraft to slide sideways along the runway surface. As a result, the aircraft exited the right side of the runway, leading to the collapse of the nose landing gear. The aircraft eventually came to rest on its nose and right wing.
The investigation
The aircraft sustained structural damage to the nose and the right wing following the excursion.