Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of control during landing roll with gusty winds.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that prior to landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he obtained the current weather of the destination airport, which included the current wind. During the final approach to land the wind was a lot stronger and gustier than expected. He advanced the throttle to make a crosswind correction to the left. About 10 ft above the runway the pilot set up for a three-point landing. Shortly after landing, the left wing began to rise, and the nose stared to turn to the right. Subsequently, the airplane quickly turned to the right and the right wing tip and right elevator impacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 16, with the wind from 150° at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots.