What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot experienced gust of wind from left while in landing flare at laa. Airplane banked right, pilot corrected with left rudder only and airplane contracted ground with right wing with ensuing ground loop and nosed over. Airplane came to rest on top of wing and rudder (up side down) pilot exited with no injury. Airplane damage was substantial. Further interview with pilot revealed that he departed on long solo cross country without knowledge or approval of his instructor.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT EXPERIENCED GUST OF WIND FROM LEFT WHILE IN LANDING FLARE AT LAA. AIRPLANE BANKED RIGHT, PILOT CORRECTED WITH LEFT RUDDER ONLY AND AIRPLANE CONTRACTED GROUND WITH RIGHT WING WITH ENSUING GROUND LOOP AND NOSED OVER. AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON TOP OF WING AND RUDDER (UP SIDE DOWN) PILOT EXITED WITH NO INJURY. AIRPLANE DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL. FURTHER INTERVIEW WITH PILOT REVEALED THAT HE DEPARTED ON LONG SOLO CROSS COUNTRY WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL OF HIS INSTRUCTOR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.