Takeoff Aborted on Dry Lake Bed Ends in Ground Loop Damage

Incident Overview and Pilot Account According to the pilot's report, the aircraft landed on a small dry lake bed, also known as a playa. During the subsequent takeoff attempt, the pilot noted a light left crosswind. The airplane began to weathervane to the left, and the pilot stated that he was unable to counteract the left turning tendency using the rudder. As a result, the pilot aborted the takeoff. ## Braking and Resulting Damage During the application of the brakes, the aircraft ground looped to the left. This maneuver caused structural damage, specifically bending the right wing and the horizontal stabilizer.