What happened
During a series of touch-and-go landings on runway 20, the pilot encountered a sudden wind gust from the left. This gust caused the aircraft to weathercock approximately 15 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. In an attempt to maintain control, the pilot applied power and full right rudder; however, these actions were insufficient to straighten the airplane. The pilot subsequently reduced engine power and applied the brakes.
As a result of the excursion, the aircraft looped to the left. During this maneuver, the right wing and the elevator impacted the runway surface. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, but there were no reported injuries.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft systems was conducted, which revealed no anomalies in the mechanical components.
Findings
At 1502, the Aviation Routine Weather Report indicated winds from 150 degrees at 7 knots, with gusts reaching 15 knots.