Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's written statement, the airplane was about to touchdown on a turf runway when a gust of wind caused the left wing to drop toward the ground. The wing impacted the ground, and the airplane skidded along the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest and was engulfed in flames, which resulted in substantial damage.
Environmental Factors
Winds recorded at an airport 12 miles to the south, about the time of the accident, were from 030 degrees at 10 knots with gusts of 19 knots. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Post-Accident Observations
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site noted that the airplane landed approximately 150 feet prior to the turf runway threshold. The inspector's observation, combined with the pilot's report, provided the basis for understanding the accident circumstances.