The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, a "gust came up" and the airplane exited the runway to the right on to the sand hummocks, the landing gears collapsed, and the airplane impacted terrain.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation station located on an airport about 12 nm away reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 350° at 6 knots. The pilot reported that the was variable at 5 knots, gusting up to 15 knots. The airplane departed on runway 21.