Accident
On 19 April 2016 at 1230 hrs, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II (registration G-BNXE) operated by a private pilot experienced a runway excursion during landing at Sturgate Airfield, Lincolnshire. The pilot was the sole crew member and there were two passengers on board; none were injured. The aircraft sustained damage to its front and right wheel fairings, propeller, and engine due to shock-loading.
Flight Details
The pilot held a Light Aircraft Pilot’s Licence and had accumulated 1,290 flight hours, of which 850 were on the accident type. In the preceding 90 days, he had flown 5 hours, and in the last 28 days, 3 hours.
Landing Sequence
The pilot was approaching Runway 27, which had a dry asphalt surface 820 m long. He described the wind as “light and variable” and had made several ‘blind’ radio calls without response, noting the wind strength appeared to be about 4 kt. On final approach, he felt slightly high due to noise abatement procedures over local houses and selected two stages of flap. On touchdown, the pilot perceived that the wind had calmed completely, causing the aircraft to float further than expected. The aircraft subsequently ran off the end of the runway into an area of ploughed land at a speed he estimated to be about 5 mph.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II (serial no. 28-8116034) was manufactured in 1981 and powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D3G piston engine.