Crosswind Gust Causes Substantial Damage During Landing

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that while landing, the airplane was cleared to use a runway with a 50-degree crosswind at 8 knots. As the airplane descended to between 10 and 20 feet above the runway, a sudden gust of wind pushed the aircraft to the left. The left wing then struck the ground, followed by the right wing, before the airplane came to rest. The impact caused substantial damage to both wings and the airframe.

Pilot Statement

The pilot stated that the accident could have been avoided by requesting a runway with more favorable wind conditions. Additionally, the pilot confirmed that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.