Accident Overview
On 11 September 2017, at 0956 UTC, a Piper PA-28RT-201 Cherokee Arrow IV, registration G-BHAY, crashed at Wolferton, Norfolk. The aircraft was on a private flight from London Southend Airport to Newcastle International Airport. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft sustained severe disruption to the engine front fuselage, wings, and landing gear.
Flight History
The aircraft was based at Newcastle International Airport. In July 2017, the pilot flew via France to Menorca, Spain. In September 2017, the pilot and passenger flew back from Menorca through France, bound for Newcastle. On 10 September, they landed at Southend due to inclement weather and stayed overnight.
On 11 September, the pilot planned to continue to Newcastle. After about an hour of preparation, the aircraft departed at 0908 hrs. At 0953 hrs, while over The Wash, the pilot transmitted a mayday on 121.5 MHz, reporting a very rough running engine at 3,300 ft amsl descending, and planned to turn south towards RAF Marham. Shortly after, he reported smoke and an electrical fire. At about 0954 hrs, he reported engine failure at about 1,400 ft amsl. He stated he could not reach RAF Marham or Great Massingham. The last transmission at 0956:45 hrs, passing 1,200 ft amsl, indicated he would land in a field. The last radar contact was at 0957:23 hrs at about 500 ft amsl, 0.25 nm north of the accident site.
Witness Accounts
A witness 0.3 nm north-northwest of the accident site saw the aircraft at about 300 ft agl flying south over farmland. He heard no engine noise. When it reached about 40 ft agl near the old sea wall, it dropped vertically and disappeared. Another witness 0.25 nm southwest saw the aircraft at low altitude with landing gear down and a stationary propeller blade pointing up. When about twice the height of trees on the sea wall, the aircraft turned right and stalled, nose dropping quickly, and struck the berm. Witnesses reported fine weather with strong westerly wind.
Meteorological Conditions
A Met Office aftercast indicated a deep low-pressure area over the northern North Sea with strong winds. Forecast low-level winds at 1200 hrs were from 260° at 30 kt at 1,000 ft and 35 kt at 2,000 ft. Observations at 0950 hrs at RAF Marham and 1020 hrs at Norwich Airport recorded wind from 230° at 14-23 kt with gusts, visibility >10 km, and QNH 988 hPa.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA-28RT Cherokee Arrow IV is a four-seat, low-wing, single-engine aircraft with retractable landing gear and a Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 engine. The landing gear automatic extension system had been removed from G-BHAY.
Medical and Toxicological Findings
Post-mortem examinations attributed deaths to multiple injuries from the impact. Toxicology tests for the pilot were negative for drugs and alcohol; a carboxyhaemoglobin level of 1.9% indicated unlikely exposure to excess carbon monoxide before death.
Investigation Findings
The investigation could not positively determine why the aircraft stalled. However, it revealed that the engine had not been maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions while the aircraft was not used for long periods and parked outside.