Narrative
A pilot flying an airplane with three passengers reported that the aircraft ground looped during the landing roll at an airport in Key West, Florida. The flight had departed to return after having flown to Key West the previous day. One of the passengers was the owner of the airplane but is not a pilot.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, while southeast of the airport, he canceled the instrument clearance. The wind was from 200 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, and landings were being conducted on runways 14 and 22. The flight was vectored for a landing on runway 14. The pilot reported that he landed first on the right main landing gear and the tailwheel due to the crosswind from the right. During the landing roll, with full right aileron and left rudder input applied, the airplane ground looped to the right. The pilot further stated that he did not ask to land on runway 22 and that the wind was turbulent due to "trees and a newly constructed noise barrier on the upwind side of that runway." He indicated that the situation could have been prevented if he had insisted on landing on runway 22, which was the favored runway based on the wind direction. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction.
Conditions
The wind was reported from 200 degrees at 10 to 15 knots. The pilot characterized the wind as turbulent, attributing it to trees and a newly constructed noise barrier near runway 14.