What happened
On 16 November 2017, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BSXB, was performing a private flight at Wolverhampton (Halfpenny Green) Airport. The pilot had departed the airfield earlier that morning, noting the presence of a cold weather front approaching from the northwest. During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating conditions, including rain, reduced visibility, and turbulence.
While returning to the airfield to land on Runway 16, the pilot was unaware that the wind direction had shifted significantly. Although the Flight Information Service Officer (FISO) attempted to warn the pilot of a developing tailwind, the pilot did not recall receiving this information. The aircraft touched down more than halfway along the runway. Due to the wet surface and the unexpected tailwind, the pilot struggled to decelerate.
Despite suggestions from a passenger to abort the landing, the pilot attempted a late go-around. During the climb, the aircraft's left wing dipped, likely due to insufficient right rudder to counteract engine torque. The aircraft subsequently struck a boundary hedge, crossed a public road, and hit a second hedge. The impact caused the left wing to detach from the fuselage, and the aircraft came to rest in a nearby field. The two crew members sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the meteorological conditions and the aircraft's flight path. It was established that a cold front was moving across the area, causing the wind to veer from a southwesterly direction to a northwesterly direction. This shift created a tailwind on the approach to Runway 16.
Investigators also reviewed the airfield's equipment, noting that the anemometer was unserviceable, meaning the FISO was relying on a windsock to estimate wind speed and direction. The investigation also looked into the pilot's decision-making regarding the landing distance and the execution of the go-around maneuver.