What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Airman was conducting taxi test on rwy 33 at marion, IN when the aircraft became airborne. The pilot said he came around to land but the winds were so turbulent that he couldn't land. He had never flown the aircraft and had not flown since 1997, so he decided to go practice a little before trying to land again. He tried again at marion but the crosswind was too much for him to handle. He then proceeded to Anderson, IN where the wind was more favorable to the north/south runway. On his second attempt, he landed in the grass adjacent to runway 36 but in his attempt to miss a runway light on a crossing runway he lost control and ground looped.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRMAN WAS CONDUCTING TAXI TEST ON RWY 33 AT MARION, IN WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT SAID HE CAME AROUND TO LAND BUT THE WINDS WERE SO TURBULENT THAT HE COULDN'T LAND. HE HAD NEVER FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD NOT FLOWN SINCE 1997, SO HE DECIDED TO GO PRACTICE A LITTLE BEFORE TRYING TO LAND AGAIN. HE TRIED AGAIN AT MARION BUT THE CROSSWIND WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIM TO HANDLE. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO ANDERSON, IN WHERE THE WIND WAS MORE FAVORABLE TO THE NORTH/SOUTH RUNWAY. ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPT, HE LANDED IN THE GRASS ADJACENT TO RUNWAY 36 BUT IN HIS ATTEMPT TO MISS A RUNWAY LIGHT ON A CROSSING RUNWAY HE LOST CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.