Accident Summary
The pilot of a single-engine aircraft on a maintenance flight reported that she had checked weather conditions before departing for airport traffic pattern operations. She noted some weather located to the northwest. After departure, she climbed to 1,000 feet above ground level, set the engine at cruise power, and completed the first traffic pattern without incident.
Events Leading to the Accident
During the second pattern, the pilot observed that the weather was moving toward the airport. As she turned onto final approach, the winds increased and the airplane encountered strong turbulence, resulting in an unstable approach. The pilot initiated a go-around; however, the airplane impacted the runway and came to rest inverted on the left side of the runway.
Wreckage and Mechanical Examination
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed structural damage to the airframe.
Weather Data
Review of weather data indicated a wind shift occurred immediately prior to the accident, which was associated with nearby thunderstorms. The recorded wind speed about the time of the accident was 25 knots, gusting to 34 knots.