What happened
Before departing from Montrose, Colorado, the pilot contacted an employee at Telluride airport, located 33.3 nm south, to inquire about weather conditions. The pilot was informed that the wind was calm. During the approach and prior to landing at Telluride, the pilot monitored the airport's ASOS, which also indicated calm winds, and visually confirmed this by observing the airport's windsock.
The landing on runway 09 began with a normal touchdown and initial rollout. However, as the aircraft's tail lowered onto the runway, the airplane encountered a tailwind gust, resulting in a ground loop. Following the incident, the pilot noted that winds were originating from the west.
There is no official weather reporting facility at Telluride airport; the nearest station is located at Montrose, which reported winds from 290 degrees at 6 knots at 1053. Per the FAA's Airport/Facility Directory, all landings at this location are required to be performed on runway 09 to avoid populated areas. The pilot and aircraft were not injured.