Incident Overview
During landing, the airplane's tail impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the base of the rudder and the right elevator. The pilot obtained weather information from an airport located about 12 nautical miles southeast of the accident airport. The winds at that airport were reported from 130 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots.
Approach and Landing Attempts
The pilot initially attempted to land on runway 03 but performed a go-around and entered the landing pattern for runway 06. The pilot indicated that the windsock suggested favorable winds for landing on runway 06. The approach to runway 06 was normal, and during the flare, the airplane touched down on the right main landing gear first, then bounced. The pilot reported that the airplane was suddenly pushed aside toward the north end of the runway, and the tail section impacted the ground.
Subsequent Actions
The airplane settled to the ground momentarily before the pilot executed another go-around and subsequently landed uneventfully on runway 24.
Post-Accident Examination
Post-accident examination revealed that the right elevator was jammed. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane prior to the accident.
Weather Conditions
An automated weather observation system (AWOS) for Show Low reported the following weather information 10 minutes after the accident: wind from 230 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 26 knots. Ten minutes prior to the accident, the winds were reported from 200 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 22 knots.