Accident Overview
A private certificated pilot was conducting a departure from an open area of tundra, which measured approximately 800 feet long by 600 feet wide. According to the pilot, the wind was from the southeast at an estimated 10 to 15 knots, and he initiated the takeoff in a southeast direction.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that just after liftoff, while the airplane was only a few feet in the air, it encountered a downdraft. The left wing then struck the ground, causing the airplane to collide with the terrain and subsequently nose over.
Aircraft Damage
As a result of the accident, the airplane sustained damage to both wings, the fuselage, the empennage, and the propeller.