On July 20, 2000, about 1645 Eastern Daylight Time, a Boeing PT17, N57851, was substantially damaged while landing at Easton Airport (ESN), Easton, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Suffolk Municipal Airport, Suffolk, Virginia, about 1440. The pilot stated that he landed on Runway 33 at ESN, and during the landing, the airplane "ground-loop[ed]". The lower left wing struck the ground as the airplane traveled off the left side of the runway, and came to rest in the grass. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The inspector observed that the lower left wing spar was broken. He added that the left wing struck a runway sign as the airplane traveled off the runway. The reported winds at ESN, at 1645, were variable at 6 knots.