Incident Summary
A tailwheel-equipped biplane sustained substantial damage during landing when it ground looped and came to rest in a ditch. The event occurred after the pilot landed on a runway with a quartering tailwind. The lower left wing spar was damaged.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that during approach, air traffic control (ATC) cleared the aircraft to land on a short runway. The pilot refused this clearance because he felt rushed by inbound traffic. ATC acknowledged the refusal and cleared the aircraft to land on a longer runway, designated 17R. The pilot landed on runway 17R with a quartering tailwind. After landing, the aircraft exited the right side of the runway, then ground looped to the right, and came to a stop nose down in a ditch, resting on the bottom left wing.
Weather Information
During the approach, ATC reported the wind as 230 degrees true at 6 knots. The meteorological aerodrome report (METAR) issued five minutes before the accident indicated calm wind. One hour before the accident, the METAR reported wind as variable at 3 knots. One hour after the accident, the METAR reported wind as variable at 4 knots.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower left wing spar. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.