Incident Description
During the landing roll, shortly after the aircraft touched down, a sudden gust of wind affected the aircraft's stability. According to the pilot, the automated terminal information service (ATIS) had reported surface winds of 12 knots at the time. However, immediately after the main wheels contacted the runway, a gust lifted the right wing. This caused the aircraft to weathervane into the wind, resulting in a deviation from the runway centerline.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft veered to the right, departing the paved surface. The left main landing gear subsequently impacted a taxiway sign. The impact caused the left main gear to collapse, and the aircraft proceeded to ground loop to the left. The ground loop continued until the aircraft came to rest in a ditch located between the runway and the parallel taxiway. The final position was approximately 1,000 feet from the runway threshold, with the aircraft heading 075 degrees.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, the reported weather included wind gusts of up to 20 knots. Additionally, observers at the airport estimated that wind gusts were reaching 30 knots. The gusty conditions were likely a factor in the loss of directional control during the landing roll, as the sudden lift of the right wing disrupted the aircraft's alignment with the runway.
No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, or injuries were provided in the source.