The 58-hour student pilot later stated the airport was reporting 27-to-35-knot sustained winds with gusts from 40 to 45 knots. The pilot then landed on Runway 2 without flaps. During the flare, a gust of wind “picked up” the right side of the airplane and subsequently the airplane dropped to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage just aft of the engine mount attachment point was buckled.
