Incident Overview
According to the pilot's statement, during the landing roll on runway 28, the airplane "possibly caught a side gust [of wind]." The airplane dropped to the ground and subsequently began turning left as it continued its landing roll. The pilot and another pilot-rated passenger applied right rudder input but could not alter the airplane's ground track.
Runway Excursion
The airplane departed the runway surface, and the nose wheel "dug in" to the ground, causing the airplane to come to rest inverted. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and the vertical stabilizer.
Mechanical Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, the recorded wind was from 240 degrees at 6 knots.