History of the Flight
The pilot, flying a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II (registration G-CGDJ) from the Scilly Isles to Blackbushe Airport, landed at Perranporth Airfield to refuel. Refuelling was completed with 30 litres of Avgas 100LL added to each wing tank. The surface wind was reported as 300° at 15 kt. The pilot taxied to Runway 27 using the left fuel tank, then switched to the right tank and performed pre-takeoff checks with no abnormalities. The auxiliary electric fuel pump was selected on before takeoff.
Accident Sequence
The pilot described the initial takeoff as normal, with the aircraft becoming airborne and climbing for 3–4 seconds. It then began to descend in a nose-high attitude. The pilot felt a loss of engine power but did not recall whether engine rpm had reduced. Neither the pilot nor the passenger heard the stall warning horn. The pilot checked that fuel was selected on, mixture was rich, carburettor heat was cold, and the primer was locked, but the aircraft continued descending and stalled just before impacting the runway nose-first near the upwind end of Runway 27. The aircraft came to rest on grass north of the runway. The pilot saw smoke from under the engine, switched off the master switch, and believed he turned the fuel selector off. Both occupants sustained minor injuries and evacuated via the right cabin door. Fire consumed most of the fuselage before firefighting appliances arrived and extinguished it.
Aircraft and Fuel Examination
Photographs showed the aircraft struck the runway in a right-wing-low, nose-down attitude. The propeller and spinner detached during impact; both blade tips exhibited rearward curling, consistent with rotation under power at impact. The airfield operator confirmed that fuel from the bowser used for refuelling met quality requirements, and no other aircraft reported fuel-related problems before or after this flight.
Airfield Information
Perranporth Airfield is located on the north Cornish coast, 6.5 nm southwest of Newquay, at an elevation of 330 ft amsl. The airfield is adjacent to sea cliffs, and a popular VFR guide warns of wind shear and severe turbulence on Runway 27 in strong winds.