What happened
On 18 July 2015, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-AVZR, was conducting a training flight at North Coates Airfield in Lincolnshire. The flight was part of a student pilot's instruction to obtain a Simple-Single Engined Aircraft (SSEA) Class rating. The aircraft was carrying two crew members and two passengers.
During the departure, the student was practicing soft-field takeoff techniques on a grass runway. After applying full power, the aircraft accelerated down the center of the strip. However, after approximately 150 to 200 meters, the student over-rotated the aircraft, which partially obscured the forward view. As the aircraft continued its takeoff roll, it drifted left by approximately 15 degrees toward the edge of the runway. Although the instructor advised the student to steer right, the aircraft's left wheel entered tall grass alongside the runway.
The resulting deceleration caused the aircraft to deviate further left, leading the left wingtip to strike a shrub. The impact was severe enough that the left wing detached from the fuselage. The aircraft subsequently came to rest inverted in an irrigation dyke, partially submerged in water.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters, the aircraft's weight and balance, and the actions of the crew. It was established that the instructor had calculated the aircraft's weight to be roughly 150 lb below the maximum all-up weight, with the center of gravity positioned near the forward limit.
Investigators looked into the sequence of control inputs during the takeoff roll. The instructor noted that while the aircraft was deviating toward the left edge of the runway, they did not intervene to take control, under the assumption that the aircraft would become airborne and the student would correct the heading before leaving the runway surface. The investigation also noted the presence of the North Coates rescue team, who assisted in removing a door window to facilitate the escape of the occupants.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced extensive damage, specifically the detachment of the left wing.
- There were no fatalities, though one passenger sustained minor injuries.
- The student pilot's over-rotation of the aircraft during the takeoff roll contributed to the loss of forward visibility.
- The instructor's decision not to take control of the aircraft while it was deviating toward the runway edge was a significant factor in the excursion.