Accident Details
A tailwheel airplane was performing a landing on runway 9, a 2,500-foot-long, 100-foot-wide turf runway. During the landing, the wind was gusting up to 18 knots and varied direction. Initially, the wind was a headwind, then shifted to a left crosswind, and later to a right crosswind. As the airplane touched down, a gust of wind caused it to drift left off the runway. The airplane subsequently traveled down an embankment, struck a tree, and came to rest in a nose-down attitude.
Pilot Report and Mechanical Condition
The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Wreckage Examination
An examination of the wreckage conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the wings and the right horizontal stabilizer.
Weather Information
The recorded wind at an airport located about 10 miles southeast of the accident site, approximately 20 minutes after the accident, was from 110 degrees at 10 knots.