What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach to land at an airport where the runway configuration required a downwind landing. This maneuver was selected specifically to comply with a local noise abatement program, which also involved landing downhill. As the aircraft descended along the downwind leg, the pilot encountered significant difficulty in maintaining control of the airplane.
Approximately 2,500 feet from the west end of the runway, the aircraft lost directional control and ground-looped off the paved surface. The uncontrolled turn caused the aircraft to collide with a group of rocks located near the runway environment. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Following the accident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the circumstances of the flight. He confirmed that he had intentionally chosen to land downwind and downhill to adhere to noise abatement procedures. However, he noted that the experience was difficult and stated that he did not believe he would ever repeat such a maneuver again.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's loss of control during a downwind landing. The decision to utilize a downwind leg for noise abatement purposes contributed to the difficulty in controlling the aircraft, leading to the ground loop and subsequent collision with terrain obstacles.