Incident Overview
A student pilot was taxiing his recently purchased experimental light sport weight-shift control airplane on a residential driveway. According to the pilot's written report to the NTSB, he pushed the control bar forward, and a gust of wind lifted the airplane. Although he had not intended to fly, the gusty wind conditions prompted him to fly to the nearest airport rather than return to the driveway.
Approach and Impact
During a southwesterly approach to Runway 24, the pilot reported encountering windshear, which he stated "slammed me into the ground." The airplane sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.
Pilot's Observations
The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. In his written report, he noted that the accident could have been avoided if he had not been taxiing the airplane in gusty wind conditions, given his limited previous flying experience.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, a nearby aviation weather reporting station recorded winds from 260 degrees at 14 knots.