Accident Sequence
According to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during his initial solo flight in the airport traffic pattern, he performed a go-around because "I did not like my approach." Following his next approach, he recalled that the airplane encountered a crosswind gust from the left as it touched down on the gravel runway. He believed that the wind had shifted, causing the airplane's tail to be "blown" to the right and the nose to turn to the left. The airplane moved from the crown of the runway onto a down-sloping edge, and the tailwheel entered the soft gravel. The weight of the airplane shifted in the direction of its momentum, and the right wing tip struck the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway before coming to rest.
Weather Conditions
The nearest METAR, located 9 miles south of the accident site, reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 8. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was variable at 6 knots, gusting to 10 knots.
Pilot's Comments
Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, in the Recommendation section, the student pilot stated: "I should have caught that there had been a wind shift between my touch and go and when I ground looped my aircraft. In preparation for landing a final check of the windsock needs to be done, every time. If there is a crosswind, a wing low approach would have helped avoid losing control of the aircraft when I touched down." The student pilot also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar.