N5466E

On October 20, 1995, at 1230 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 180G, N5466E, piloted by the owner/operator, was substantially damaged while landing at Belle Fourche Municipal Airport, Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The private pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated from Princeton, Minnesota, at 1100 cdt with an intended final destination of Cody, Wyoming.

The pilot stated that when he arrived at his planned refueling stop of Belle Fourche, he prepared to land of runway 12 (4500' x 60'). The pilot stated that while on final approach, the airplane encountered turbulence. "As I touched down, a gust of wind lifted me back up and then I bounced down again. I couldn't hold the plane straight and I started heading left towards the ravine or ditch area - I applied hard right brake to prevent the plane from going into ditch," the pilot stated. The right landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground before the airplane came to rest.

During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that upon his arrival at Belle Fourche the winds were approximately from 080 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. He had received a preflight weather briefing prior to departing Princeton and the gusty wind conditions were forecasted to diminish by his planned estimated time of arrival at Belle Fourche. The pilot stated that he normally flies his airplane with floats attached and he is used to landing into the wind on water. He stated that there was a crosswind at Belle Fourche and he just was not quick enough with the rudder correction.