What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot ground looped after racing. There was a thermal (devil duster) over the first third of the landing runway which may have caused the aircraft to float. Upon touchdown, the air circulation changed direction causing a sudden side load, which the pilot did not react to quickly enough. The aircraft ground looped and incurred damage to two control surfaces. There was no damage to the rest of the airframe, engine and propeller.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT GROUND LOOPED AFTER RACING. THERE WAS A THERMAL (DEVIL DUSTER) OVER THE FIRST THIRD OF THE LANDING RUNWAY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLOAT. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIR CIRCULATION CHANGED DIRECTION CAUSING A SUDDEN SIDE LOAD, WHICH THE PILOT DID NOT REACT TO QUICKLY ENOUGH. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND INCURRED DAMAGE TO TWO CONTROL SURFACES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE AIRFRAME, ENGINE AND PROPELLER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.