Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing in gusting wind conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot reported that during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and landed hard. Subsequently, the right wing impacted the ground, and the airplane exited the right side runway before it came rest upright on the adjacent grass. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the student pilot was landing on runway 20 with wind from 180° at 6 knots.