Accident Overview
On 18 October 2018 at 1322 UTC, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee (registration G-AYIG, serial number 28-26878, manufactured 1970) operated by a private pilot experienced a runway excursion during a practice forced landing at West Wales Airport. The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming O-320-E2A piston engine. The pilot, aged 77, held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had accumulated 1,065 total flying hours, with 547 hours on type. In the preceding 90 days he had flown 8 hours, and in the last 28 days, 4 hours.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was completing his third circuit and intended to conduct a practice forced landing (PFL) on Runway 07 from a position midway along the downwind leg. During earlier landings, he had observed a right drift on short final; therefore, he offset the PFL approach to the left of the runway extended centreline. On this approach, the expected right drift did not occur, so the pilot applied right roll to return to the centreline. The aircraft responded more than anticipated, possibly because a northerly crosswind lifted the left wing, causing the right wing and propeller to contact the runway surface. Subsequently, the aircraft slewed across the runway, departed the left side, skidded left while rotating to the right, and then returned to the runway. The left wing then contacted the runway surface before the aircraft came to rest.
Damage
Damage was confined to the propeller, nosewheel, and multiple scrapes on both wings. The two occupants (both crew, no passengers) were uninjured.
Pilot Comments
The pilot stated that he had overestimated the effect of the crosswind and that his attempt to re-align with the runway centreline caused an excessive roll. He identified several factors he believed may have contributed to the event, notably that he was overly confident he could recover the situation once it deviated from the plan, and therefore continued to attempt the landing rather than performing a go-around.