What happened
During the landing phase of flight, the pilot encountered a sudden gust of wind. This wind encounter caused the aircraft to undergo a ground loop. There were four people on board at the time of the accident, including the pilot and three passengers; all occupants were not injured.
Weather conditions reported at the airport 10 minutes after the event were from 180 degrees at 5 knots, whereas conditions had been calm 30 minutes prior to the accident.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed significant structural damage. The left wing was bent aft, and the left main landing gear was broken aft. Additionally, the firewall was bent, the cowling was crushed inward and aft, and the propeller exhibited torsional bending at the blade tips. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were also found to be bent aft. Despite the structural damage, flight control continuity was confirmed, and an examination of the aircraft systems showed no anomalies.