Piper Cherokee overruns runway during touch-and-go at La Axarquía

Casualties unknown • Aeródromo de La Axarquía (Málaga), ES

A Piper PA-28-161 aircraft overran the runway at La Axarquía Aerodrome after an unsuccessful touch-and-go maneuver, resulting in significant aircraft damage but no injuries.

What happened

On May 21, 2023, a PIPER PA-28-161, registration EC-JQS, was conducting a local flight at La Axarquía Aerodrome in Málaga, Spain. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers. After a flight along the coastline, the pilot decided to perform a touch-and-go landing on runway 12.

During the approach, the aircraft was configured with 40° flaps and was experiencing a tailwind. The aircraft touched down at the intersection with Romeo, approximately 400 meters from the end of the runway. Following touchdown, the pilot attempted to transition into a takeoff by reducing flaps to 10° and applying full power. However, the pilot realized that the aircraft lacked sufficient remaining runway to achieve a safe climb rate to clear obstacles.

In an attempt to stop the aircraft, the pilot applied full brakes and set the engine to idle. Despite these efforts, the aircraft overran the runway, crashed through the airfield perimeter fence, and came to a stop in a dry riverbed. All 4 persons on board were unharmed, though the aircraft sustained significant damage, including a collapsed nose gear and deformed wing edges.

The investigation

The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's performance, the meteorological conditions, and the runway characteristics. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating at its maximum takeoff weight. While the weather was not limiting, the aircraft landed with a tailwind component of approximately 5 to 9 knots.

Analysis of the runway geometry revealed that runway 12 has an offset threshold, which significantly reduces the available landing distance. Calculations based on the aircraft's weight and the prevailing wind indicated a required landing distance of approximately 513 meters, whereas the pilot had only about 400 meters of runway remaining from the point of touchdown.

Findings

  • The aircraft touched down too far down the runway to safely execute a touch-and-go.
  • The pilot attempted to abort the takeoff after the runway length had already been significantly depleted.
  • The cause of the accident was an incorrectly executed touch-and-go manoeuvre due to deficient flight planning.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an improperly executed touch-and-go maneuver, stemming from inadequate flight planning that failed to account for the reduced available runway distance caused by the offset threshold and tailwind conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2023-05-21 PIPPER modelo PA-28-161 accident near Aeródromo de La Axarquía (Málaga), ES?

A Piper PA-28-161 aircraft overran the runway at La Axarquía Aerodrome after an unsuccessful touch-and-go maneuver, resulting in significant aircraft damage but no injuries.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2023-05-21 involved a PIPPER modelo PA-28-161, registration EC-JQS, at Aeródromo de La Axarquía (Málaga), ES.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by an improperly executed touch-and-go maneuver, stemming from inadequate flight planning that failed to account for the reduced available runway distance caused by the offset threshold and tailwind conditions.

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