Accident Summary
A single-engine airplane sustained substantial damage to its horizontal stabilizer and elevator during a landing attempt on a private grass airstrip. The accident occurred during the landing flare, when the airplane encountered a quartering tailwind gust that pushed it left of the runway centerline.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was conducting a landing on a private grass airstrip. The airstrip had an uphill gradient. During the flare, a quartering tailwind gust affected the airplane's path, causing it to shift left of the centerline. In response, the pilot applied corrective control inputs to avoid a ditch located alongside the runway. However, despite these efforts, the left horizontal stabilizer made contact with a rock berm.
Damage
The impact with the rock berm resulted in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The extent of damage rendered the airplane in need of significant repair.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. This indicates that the accident was not attributed to any mechanical issue, but rather to the environmental conditions and the subsequent evasive maneuver.
Airstrip Conditions
The accident occurred on a private grass airstrip. The surface was composed of grass and gravel, and at the time of the accident, it was wet. These conditions, combined with the uphill slope and quartering tailwind gust, likely contributed to the difficulty in maintaining the intended landing path.