Accident Overview
A pilot flying a weight-shift-control aircraft conducted a local area flight departing around 0630. Approximately 45 minutes before departure, the pilot obtained weather information from an internet source and noted a thunderstorm about 100 miles west of the departure airport. About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot observed a low cloud bank with a base of about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl) located roughly 1/4 mile east of the airport. At the same time, he noticed an area of heavy rain from clouds approximately 15 miles west of his position. Due to the deteriorating weather, he decided to land as soon as possible.
Emergency Landing Attempt
Instead of making an approach to the airport's single runway (17/35), the pilot chose to land toward the west in an open pasture area located on airport property. Shortly after clearing trees and hangars on the east side of the airport, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude from about 20 feet agl and impacted the ground in an upright attitude. Following the impact, the aircraft rolled over onto its left side. The pilot reported that the aircraft did not appear to have any forward velocity when it impacted terrain, as indicated by a lack of damage to surrounding vegetation.
Damage and Aircraft Information
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The aircraft's operating limitations included a maximum headwind component of 21 knots and a maximum crosswind component of 11 knots.
Weather Conditions
Meteorological data collected during the investigation indicated that a squall line of thunderstorm activity was present within a few miles of the accident site at the time of the accident. The National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center had issued a warning for the development of severe thunderstorms, and an NWS storm warning called for scattered strong-to-severe thunderstorms associated with the passage of a cold front. Local weather stations reported a wind shift from south to north, associated with the frontal boundary, and wind gusts reaching 24 knots. Review of weather radar imagery showed that, at the time of the pilot's preflight weather check, a line of thunderstorms was located about 40 miles northwest of the departure airport. That same line was within a few miles of the airport at the time of the accident and moved through the area almost immediately thereafter.