Accident Summary
During the landing approach to runway 34, which is 5,755 feet long and 100 feet wide with a dry asphalt surface, the pilot reported that he was unable to obtain weather information from the airport's automated weather observing system (AWOS) because it was inoperative. He proceeded to land without verifying current conditions. Upon touchdown, the airplane veered toward the right side of the runway and executed a ground loop. The pilot attributed the loss of control to a left gusting crosswind.
Examination Findings
A post-accident inspection revealed that the flaps were fully extended at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, including crushing of the left wing, bending of the horizontal stabilizer, and wrinkling of the fuselage forward of the empennage and below the aft cabin window. The pilot was uninjured.
Pilot Account
The pilot acknowledged that he should have performed a low pass over the runway to assess current conditions before landing. He noted that the airport had two windsocks; one was located approximately 1,000 feet down the runway from the threshold.
Weather Information
Although the pilot believed the AWOS was inoperative, later review indicated that the system was operating at the time of the accident. At 1735, the AWOS recorded wind from 290 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots.