What happened
The pilot, holding an airline transport certificate, was attempting to land on a narrow gravel area oriented east and west. The available surface was approximately 700 feet long and only about 30 feet wide. According to the pilot's account, he touched down while traveling uphill toward the western end of the strip. Shortly after touchdown, approximately 20 feet into the landing roll, an unexpected gust of wind lifted the tail of the aircraft.
This sudden lift caused the nose of the airplane to veer sharply to the right. As the aircraft deviated from its path, the right wing struck a tree. The impact resulted in damage to the right wing and the right wing lift strut. The pilot noted that prior to this unexpected gust, the wind conditions had been calm.
The investigation
The examination of the accident revealed physical evidence consistent with the pilot's narrative. The aircraft sustained structural damage specifically to the right wing assembly and the associated lift strut. The point of impact with a tree confirmed the directional deviation to the right following the tail lift.
Findings
Contributing factors included the short length and narrow width of the landing surface, which provided little margin for error. The sudden change in wind conditions from calm to a gust that lifted the tail was the primary mechanical trigger for the loss of directional control. The pilot's inability to correct the nose veer in time led to the collision with the tree.