Incident Overview
The pilot of an airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to deviate from the runway. The airplane exited the runway to the right, encountering sand hummocks, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear and subsequent impact with terrain.
Damage Assessment
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. No other damage details were provided in the report.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
Wind Conditions
An automated weather observation station located approximately 12 nautical miles from the accident airport reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 350 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was variable at 5 knots, gusting up to 15 knots. The airplane departed on runway 21.