Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting an arrival and observed a thunderstorm just south of the airport with visible lightning. As the pilot continued the approach to Runway 29, wind gusts were noted to increase.
Flare and Ground Contact
During the flare, a gust of wind lifted the left wing, causing the right wing to strike the turf approximately two feet to the right of the runway. Subsequently, the aircraft ground looped to the right. The left main landing gear and nose gear failed during the event.
Reported Weather Conditions
The pilot reported that the wind was from 190 degrees at 23 knots, gusting to 30 knots.
Aircraft Damage
As a result of the ground loop and gear failure, the aircraft sustained damage to the left main and nose landing gear. The extent of damage to other components was not specified in the report.