Incident Overview
A pilot reported an accident during a landing attempt after discontinuing a flight due to adverse weather. According to the pilot's account, the aircraft had just taken off when the pilot encountered bad weather and decided to return. By the time the airplane was on approach, weather conditions had worsened, with gusting winds.
Landing Sequence
As the airplane touched down, a gust of wind caused it to balloon back into the air. When the airplane descended again, it ground-looped—a sudden uncontrolled turn on the ground—and sustained damage. The pilot noted that there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that the decision to discontinue the flight was based on the bad weather encountered after takeoff. Upon returning, the deteriorating conditions and gusty winds were factors in the landing incident. The pilot attributed the ballooning and subsequent ground loop to a wind gust that affected the airplane during the landing flare.