What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)Pilot attempted to land at the Apex dry lake bed. On his first pass he made a go around due to his positioning on the dry lake bed. On his second attempt, he did land and encounter a strong inexpected gusty right cross wind estimated at 15-20 knots. The pilot thought of adding power and attempt to fly out of the condition but felt he would endanger himself and his passenger, so he elected not to and allowed the aircraft to ground loop causing substantial damage to the right wing.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE APEX DRY LAKE BED. ON HIS FIRST PASS HE MADE A GO AROUND DUE TO HIS POSITIONING ON THE DRY LAKE BED. ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPT, HE DID LAND AND ENCOUNTER A STRONG INEXPECTED GUSTY RIGHT CROSS WIND ESTIMATED AT 15-20 KNOTS. THE PILOT THOUGHT OF ADDING POWER AND ATTEMPT TO FLY OUT OF THE CONDITION BUT FELT HE WOULD ENDANGER HIMSELF AND HIS PASSENGER, SO HE ELECTED NOT TO AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.