Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while attempting to land in a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he was attempting to land with a right quartering crosswind at a velocity of 13 knots, gusting to 24 knots. As the airplane neared touchdown, the pilot felt a sudden loss of lift and the airplane began to drop, possibly due to windshear. The pilot increased engine power for a go-around, but the airplane veered left off the runway, went down a depression, and across a taxiway before coming to rest. While traveling down the depression, the empennage impacted the ground and separated, substantially damaging the airframe. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.