20160508005309A

The aircraft and pilot were returning after an aerial application flight. During the landing phase, on roll out, the tail was coming down after a wheel landing. A gust of wind picked the tail up and started the aircraft turning to the right. The aircraft departed the runway to the right side. The tail wheel hit the ground and broke loose from the aircraft. The tail wheel spring dug into the soft dirt on the side of the runway, while the aircraft continued to turn to the right. The aircraft was damaged by bending the fuselage structure to the right side of the aircraft. When the aircraft came to rest the tail assembly was bent to the right side of the aircraft aligned approximately 45 degrees to the right. The wings and propeller appear to have not contacted the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, the airman was not injured. The airman stated he did not encounter any aircraft anomaly or malfunction that was a contributing factor. The weather conditions were reported to be visual meteorologically conditions. However, weather reported to be changing rapidly due to impending storms. Surface winds were reported to be northeast and changing to the southeast and then to the west and gusty while the airman attempted to land on runway 35.