Accident Summary
A pilot reported that while landing on a beach, the airplane entered a ground loop after the pilot relaxed back pressure on the yoke. The right wing struck the ground, followed by the left wing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Aircraft Damage
According to the report, the airplane suffered substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage as a result of the ground loop and subsequent wing strikes.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After examining the tracks left in the sand, the pilot concluded that he had failed to hold back pressure on the yoke during the landing roll to maintain proper soft-field technique.
Findings
The pilot identified that the loss of back pressure during the landing roll was the key factor in the accident, based on the tracks observed on the beach.