Accident Description
During the landing roll, a tailwheel-equipped airplane exited the runway to the left, struck a runway light, and impacted a ditch. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane came to rest nose down. Substantial damage was sustained to the left lower fuselage and left wing.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that, prior to the flight at the departure airport, he was blown off a ladder during preflight inspection due to jet blast. The airplane's tail section was lifted and slammed onto the ground several times. After examining the airplane, he found no anomalies. During takeoff, the pilot did not report any control issues or anomalies. However, during the flight to the accident airport, he felt the airplane was out of trim.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector conducted a postaccident examination. The inspector was not able to determine if the damage to the tailwheel occurred prior to the accident or was caused by the airplane's impact with the ditch. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.