N4900CPiper/Gerbi Charles R PA 18-150 · 2013

The student pilot stated he departed from his remote cabin and recalled experiencing significant downdrafts while maneuvering in an area of hilly terrain. The next thing he remembered is trying to turn off the key after the accident, and then waking up in a hospital. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

The solo student pilot reported that, while taxiing to park, a strong crosswind lifted the right wing and that the airplane then began to roll. He attempted to correct for the roll to no avail, and the airplane subsequently ran off the side of the taxiway and impacted a drainage ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right lift struts. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.