Incident Overview
The pilot of an airplane reported that during the landing flare, the aircraft encountered a sudden massive gust of wind that pitched the nose upward. The pilot pushed the yoke forward, but the wind shifted to a tailwind, and the airplane slammed onto the runway. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered right off the runway, and came to rest nose down.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather and Runway Information
The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 4 knots. The pilot landed on runway 26. The accident airport is at an elevation of about 6752 ft., with a calculated density altitude about the time of the accident of 9211 feet.