What happened
On 6 June 2014, a Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six, registration G-CDUX, was performing a private flight when it departed the runway at Newtownards Airport, County Down. During the approach to Runway 04, the aircraft was facing a 15-knot crosswind from the right. The pilot employed a crab technique to maintain the centerline, noting that agricultural machinery was operating in a field adjacent to the left side of the runway. As the aircraft descended through the final 200 feet, the pilot encountered turbulence.
During the flare, as the pilot attempted to align the aircraft with the runway and lowered the wing into the wind, the left wingtip made contact with the runway surface. This impact led to a loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and collide with a fence. The accident resulted in no injuries to the pilot or the five passengers on board, though the aircraft suffered extensive damage to its propeller, tailplane, fuselage, and left wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions and the pilot's maneuvers during the landing phase. The pilot noted that the presence of nearby agricultural activity and the experienced turbulence contributed to a loss of focus. The pilot further stated that these factors led to an over-compensation for the crosswind effects during the critical landing phase.