N3654MPiper PA-12 · 1947

The pilot of the wheel-ski equipped airplane reported that after landing on skis, during the taxi on hard packed snow, a gust of wind pushed the airplane and the left wing impacted a parked, unoccupied airplane.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left wing lift strut.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that about 13 minutes after the accident the wind was 360° at 12 knots, gusting 20 knots.

The pilot was landing at an unlighted, gravel runway, at dusk, when he inadvertently touched down in a grass-covered drainage ditch, which was right of the gravel runway. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a drainage culvert, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot noted in his written statement to the NTSB that he was unable to discern the difference between the gravel runway and grass-covered terrain due to the low-light conditions, and he mistakenly selected the grass-covered ditch. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.