What happened
On 8 April 2003, a solo private flight was underway from Gloucestershire Airport to Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon. The pilot of the North American T-6G Harvard, registration G-BKRA, had been notified prior to departure that Runway 05 was active and that parachuting activities might be occurring at the destination.
Upon arrival, the pilot attempted to contact the local radio service without success. To maintain safety and spacing from another aircraft already in the circuit, the pilot opted to follow the preceding aircraft on a wide right-hand downwind leg. During the approach, the pilot configured the aircraft with two stages of flap and then full landing flaps, reducing speed to approximately 85 mph. The pilot reported that the approach felt normal and did not detect any significant crosswind or turbulence.
The aircraft touched down on the centerline of the runway with all three wheels. Immediately following touchdown, the aircraft began to swing toward the left. Although the pilot applied corrective right rudder, the aircraft subsequently swung to the right. Despite further attempts to use left rudder to correct the movement, the aircraft entered a ground loop to the right. The incident resulted in no injuries to the crew, though the aircraft sustained slight damage to the landing gear and the left wingtip.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the pilot's experience, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot, who held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 672 total flying hours, noted that he had not previously encountered significant directional departures in this aircraft. The investigation also reviewed the surface conditions of the runway and the recorded meteorological data from the Dunkeswell remote weather station, which indicated an average wind of 120° at 9 knots during the period of the accident.