NTSB Factual Report

On April 20, 2003, approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N40520, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing roll at Kemmerer Municipal Airport (EMM), Kemmerer, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Rawlings, Wyoming, approximately 1115.

The pilot stated that while en route to Kemmerer, she received weather updates from an automated surface observing system (ASOS). Approximately 30 minutes before landing, an update indicated that the winds at EMM were from 160 degrees at 6 knots. Approximately 10 nautical miles from EMM, an update indicated that the winds were from 120 degrees at 3 knots. During the landing roll on runway 16, she encountered a gust of wind. She attempted to regain control, but the airplane swerved to the right and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane's left main landing gear struck a ditch and the left wing tip struck the ground. The impact with the ground damaged the outboard 4 feet of the left wing, and buckled the aft strut on the left wing.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop/swerve and impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the wind gust and the ditch.