What happened
During an approach to the intended destination, the pilot encountered gusty crosswinds and downdrafts. As the aircraft was approximately 20 feet above the ground, just before crossing the runway threshold, a sudden downdraft caused the plane to sink rapidly toward the ground.
The right main landing gear impacted a gravel and dirt area located roughly 10 feet in front and to the right of the runway. Following the impact, ground-based witnesses notified the pilot that the landing gear appeared to be damaged. The pilot subsequently aborted the landing and executed a go-around.
Due to the suspected damage, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport featuring a longer runway. At this location, the pilot performed an intentional gear-up landing.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed that the right main landing gear was broken. Additionally, the right wing and fuselage were found to be deformed, with buckling noted in both components.