Incident Overview
On 27 June 2002, at approximately 1330 UTC, an Aeronca 11AC, registration G-IVOR, sustained damage to its landing gear during a landing at Roserrow Airstrip in Cornwall. The aircraft was engaged in a private flight with one pilot and one passenger on board; neither occupant was injured.
Flight History
The pilot had flown the aircraft from Bodmin to Roserrow earlier that morning, executing an uneventful landing. After picking up a passenger, the pilot conducted a local flight before returning to the airstrip. The aircraft, a high-wing, two-seat tailwheel type, was powered by a single Continental A65-8F piston engine.
Landing and Event Sequence
Roserrow Airstrip is an unlicensed grass strip measuring 600 metres in length and 25 metres in width with an undulating surface. No windsock was available, so the pilot assessed wind direction using visual cues in the area. The approach was made to Runway 09, and the landing was performed at what the pilot reported as a slightly high speed.
During the landing ground roll, the aircraft began to drift to the left. The slope of the runway caused the aircraft to veer downslope while also turning into the wind. The pilot was unable to make sufficient correction to keep the aircraft on the runway but was unconcerned, believing he could decelerate clear of the runway in an area of long grass and then taxi back to the parking area.
Damage
Unbeknownst to the pilot, a ditch was present in the area of long grass. The aircraft dropped into the ditch, swung around through 180 degrees, and sustained damage to its landing gear.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 47, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 375 flying hours, of which 145 were on type. In the 90 days preceding the incident, he had flown 26 hours, with 11 hours in the last 28 days.