What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 29, 2022, about 1830 local time, PIC stated he was flying near Knik Glacier, AK, where he observed the area prior to landing. He attempted to make a slow approach and land on an unfamiliar gravel/sandbar. PIC stated that landing area was clear of obstructions, visibility was clear, and very little to no crosswind or headwind. Upon touchdown, transition to landing rollout, and as the tail wheel touched down. The PIC felt as if there were not enough wind over rudder and the aircraft’s tail began to yaw left. PIC immediately attempted to use opposite rudder to compensate as the aircraft began to ground-loop to the left. Just as the rudder correction was put in, the left main landing gear tire hit a gravel divot; forcing the aircraft to continue spinning to the left. The aircraft continued to ground-loop; resulting in the left wing and elevator making contact with the ground.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 29, 2022, ABOUT 1830 LOCAL TIME, PIC STATED HE WAS FLYING NEAR KNIK GLACIER, AK, WHERE HE OBSERVED THE AREA PRIOR TO LANDING. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A SLOW APPROACH AND LAND ON AN UNFAMILIAR GRAVEL/SANDBAR. PIC STATED THAT LANDING AREA WAS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS, VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR, AND VERY LITTLE TO NO CROSSWIND OR HEADWIND. UPON TOUCHDOWN, TRANSITION TO LANDING ROLLOUT, AND AS THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN. THE PIC FELT AS IF THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH WIND OVER RUDDER AND THE AIRCRAFT’S TAIL BEGAN TO YAW LEFT. PIC IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO USE OPPOSITE RUDDER TO COMPENSATE AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO GROUND-LOOP TO THE LEFT. JUST AS THE RUDDER CORRECTION WAS PUT IN, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE HIT A GRAVEL DIVOT; FORCING THE AIRCRAFT TO CONTINUE SPINNING TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO GROUND-LOOP; RESULTING IN THE LEFT WING AND ELEVATOR MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.