History of the Flight
Approaching Great Massingham Airfield from the south, the pilot observed the windsock aligned with Runway 04/22 and interpreted the wind as coming from 220°. The actual wind at the time was from 040°. The pilot joined the downwind leg for a landing on Runway 22. Although the approach and initial touchdown were normal, the aircraft's groundspeed appeared faster than expected. During the later stages of the ground roll, at approximately 25 mph, the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot found he could not correct this using rudder alone and applied right wheel braking. The aircraft ground looped to the right, causing the left landing gear to collapse. The left wing tip and propeller were bent, and the left landing gear was torn off, resulting in associated fuselage damage.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants (the pilot and one passenger) were uninjured and vacated the aircraft unassisted. The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing tip, propeller, and left landing gear, as well as fuselage damage.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and was 40 years old. His total flying experience was 155 hours, of which 11 were on the Luscombe Silvaire 8E type. In the last 90 days he had flown 6 hours, and in the last 28 days, 1 hour.
Probable Cause
The pilot attributed the accident to landing downwind, which resulted in a higher-than-normal groundspeed, and overcompensating when applying the right wheel brake.