What happened
On 22 July 2003, a Piper PA-32-300, registration PH-SMD, was being ferried from Shannon Airport to Brittas Airfield in County Limerick for a private flight. The pilot, who was experienced with the airfield, approached runway 34, which features a continuous downgradient slope. During the landing sequence, the aircraft touched down further down the runway than intended, at a speed of approximately 80 knots. Upon application of full braking, the pilot encountered poor braking action due to the damp surface of the grass and gravel runway. Consequently, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and came to a stop in a boundary ditch. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage to its engine, propeller, and port wing.
The investigation
The AAIU conducted a field investigation based on the pilot's report. The inquiry examined the runway conditions at Brittas Airfield, noting the 750-metre runway's composition of short grass and compacted gravel. Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's registration status. While the aircraft carried a Dutch registration, the Dutch Transportation Safety Board confirmed that PH-SMD had been removed from the Dutch register in June 2003, meaning the certificate of airworthiness had lapsed. The investigation noted that while the owner intended to re-register the plane in Ireland, no such Irish registration had been issued at the time of the accident.