What happened
On 6 September 2005, a Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, registration G-BGWH, was engaged in a private flight from Clacton Airfield to Great Oakley Airstrip in Essex. After departing Clacton, the pilot completed three circuits of the airfield to assess the weather conditions before proceeding to the destination. Upon arrival at Great Oakley, the weather was reported as fine with good visibility and light winds.
The pilot performed a standard approach to Runway 09, touching down on the grass strip at a speed between 50 and 55 knots. During the landing roll, the pilot initiated braking, which the pilot believed to be even and not excessive. However, shortly after applying the brakes, the aircraft veered to the right. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, resulting in a ground loop that caused the aircraft to leave the prepared surface. The tail of the aircraft came to rest in a ditch adjacent to the runway, resulting in dents to the underside of the rear fuselage. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances of the landing and the pilot's application of the brakes. The investigation noted that the pilot later indicated that braking may have been initiated too early, suggesting that the remaining runway length could have been used to decelerate the aircraft without the need for braking.
Findings
- The aircraft veered right and entered a ground loop following the application of brakes.
- The pilot commenced braking too early in the landing roll.
- A flying instructor familiar with the aircraft type noted that standard advice for pilots operating this model is to avoid using brakes whenever possible.