What happened
On 14 July 2018, a Just SuperSTOL, registration G-HONO, was returning to a farmstrip near Market Drayton, Shropshire, following a local flight. The pilot intended to land in a south-easterly direction to take advantage of a more open approach, as the windsock indicated a westerly wind.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft touched down on a slight downhill portion of the strip, rather than the planned low point in the middle of the runway. As the aircraft continued along the strip, it began to veer toward the left edge. The pilot attempted to correct this using right rudder, but the input initially yielded little result. As the aircraft approached the end of the strip while still maintaining significant speed, the pilot increased rudder input. This resulted in a ground loop, during which the right main landing gear lifted and the left wing struck the ground.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight logs and the pilot's account of the approach. Analysis of the GPS flight data revealed that the aircraft had actually landed with a 5 kt tailwind, a factor the pilot had not identified during the approach. The pilot noted that he had flown the approach at a higher speed than usual and had applied the right brake simultaneously with the rudder deflection. Additionally, the pilot reflected that the decision to land on the downhill section of the strip should have been followed by a go-around, and noted feeling rushed prior to the flight.