What happened
On 7 May 2017, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BNRG, was conducting a private flight at Sandown Airport, Isle of Wight. Following a standard overhead join and circuit, the pilot attempted to land the aircraft. However, the touchdown occurred later than intended.
Although the pilot initially believed there was sufficient runway remaining to complete the landing, the aircraft bounced upon contact with the surface, which further decreased the available stopping distance. At this stage, the pilot decided to proceed with the landing rather than initiating a go-around. Upon reaching the ground, the pilot applied maximum braking pressure, but the aircraft could not be stopped within the runway limits. The aircraft subsequently rolled off the end of the runway at a low speed into an area of brambles and wasteland. There were no injuries to the pilot or the three passengers on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to the engine, propeller, left wing, and left landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight path, the timing of the touchdown, and the pilot's decision-making process during the final stages of the approach. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flying experience, noting that at the time of the accident, the commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence with 60 total flying hours, only 12 of which were on this specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The pilot performed a late touchdown during the landing phase.
- The aircraft experienced a bounce after the initial contact with the runway.
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around despite recognizing the late touchdown and the subsequent loss of runway margin.
- The aircraft exited the runway at a low speed due to insufficient remaining distance.