The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing in a crosswind, he planned to touch down 2 ft past the beginning of the compacted snow-covered, private airstrip. He added that, "in order to perform [the short field landing, he] chose to ride the tires just over the terrain until touchdown". After the front main landing gear touched down, a "gust of wind" picked up the right-side wing, the left tire sank in the snow, and the airplane decelerated and nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot reported that there were not preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot reported the wind at the accident location, about the time of the accident as wind 230° at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot was landing to the southwest, heading 210°.