Accident Details
While attempting to land on runway 17, the airplane experienced a gust of wind that pushed it sideways into weeds lining the runway. The aircraft then struck a bale of hay, causing it to pitch forward onto its nose. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aft fuselage and empennage.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. In the accident report form, the pilot indicated that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining a higher touchdown speed to compensate for the wind conditions.
Environmental Factors
Prior to landing, the pilot was unable to evaluate the wind direction and velocity at the airport due to the absence of a windsock and the lack of recorded weather information. To assess the wind, the pilot relied on observations from a nearby lake.