The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane "caught a crosswind" and became airborne again. The airplane touched back down and veered off the runway to the right into the grass. The pilot was able to get the airplane back onto the runway and taxied to park without further incident.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector reported that the airplane damage was consistent with a hard landing, including a tail strike. He added that further evidence of a tail strike was noted on the bottom side of the tail underneath the vertical stabilizer.