What happened
On 11 February 2018, a Piper PA-28-1ob Cherokee, registration G-ATPN, was performing a private flight at Southend Airport. The pilot, who had recently received his Private Pilot’s Licence and had only 55 total flying hours, was conducting his first flight with passengers.
During the approach to Runway 23, the pilot encountered turbulent and gusty wind conditions. Despite a recommendation from an instructor to increase approach speed to account for the weather, the pilot maintained a target speed of 85 mph. As the aircraft neared the runway, a sudden gust caused the plane to roll and hit the runway, resulting in a bounce.
In an attempt to execute a go-around, the pilot applied power and notified Air Traffic Control. However, during this maneuver, the aircraft pitched up excessively and the rate of descent increased. The aircraft subsequently stalled and struck a grass area south of the runway threshold. The impact caused extensive damage to the aircraft, including the failure of all three landing gear legs. All three occupants, including the two passengers, were able to exit the aircraft unassisted without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration and the pilot's recent training history. It was noted that the aircraft was flying near its maximum takeoff weight, with a center of gravity positioned further aft than the pilot had previously experienced. CCTV footage from the airfield confirmed that after the initial bounced touchdown, the aircraft climbed briefly before the right wing dropped and the aircraft sank into the grass.
Findings
- The pilot failed to implement the recommended safety margin for approach speed during turbulent conditions.
- The pilot's decision to continue the approach despite being below the ideal path contributed to the unstable landing.
- The aircraft stalled during the go-around due to an excessive nose-up attitude and insufficient airspeed.
- The pilot's focus on communicating with Air Traffic Control during the critical phase of the go-around distracted from necessary flight controls, such as applying right rudder and managing pitch to allow speed to build.