Aeronca Champion
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 79; Flight Crew Total 4990; Flight Crew Type 20
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
Winds were from 250 degrees at 8 KTS. I was landing on the Runway 27. The weather was clear with unlimited visibility. I was the pilot and sitting in the back seat. The passenger was in the front seat. I touched down on the tail wheel at 55 miles per hour; then bounced on the main gear; and lost directional control to left. [This] resulted in a ground loop; and the right wing tip struck the runway surface. We departed the runway onto the grass south of Runway 27. I taxied back onto runway and to the hangar. No injuries. I did not touchdown tail and main at the same time; and then over-corrected with rudder. I should have gone around. There was minimal damage to the Ceconite fabric on the right wing tip. When I contacted the Tower for taxi clearance I informed them of no injuries. I also called the Tower on the land-line after incident per their request and I declined to make report as the damage was minimal. The Tower called back in 30 minutes to verify that no report would be filed. I will get additional dual instruction with emphasis on landings from the back seat.
An Aeronca pilot lost control during landing while operating from the aft seat with a passenger in the front seat. They ground-looped and departed from the runway surface. It resulted in minor damaged to the right wing-tip but no injuries.