What happened
A commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 from a remote cabin airstrip. The airstrip, consisting of tundra and rock, was approximately 800 feet long and 20 feet wide, oriented northeast/southwest.
During the departure toward the southwest, the pilot lifted off using 10 degrees of flaps. At an altitude of approximately 10 feet, the aircraft encountered a downdraft. This force pushed the plane downward into high brush and a tree located roughly 200 feet beyond the end of the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to nose over, resulting in structural damage to the wings and empennage.
Findings
The pilot reported that convective activity and turbulence associated with thunderstorms were present in the vicinity at the time of the accident, along with light rain showers in the area.